bird

noun, often attributive

\ ˈbərd

Definition of bird

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 archaic : the young of a feathered vertebrate

2 : any of a class (Aves) of warm-blooded vertebrates distinguished by having the body more or less completely covered with feathers and the forelimbs modified as wings

3 : a game bird

4 : clay pigeon

5a : fellow

b : a peculiar person

c chiefly British : girl

6 : shuttlecock

7 chiefly British

a : a hissing or jeering sound expressive of disapproval

b : dismissal from employment

8 : a thin piece of meat rolled up with stuffing and cooked

9 : a man-made object (such as an aircraft, rocket, or satellite) that resembles a bird especially by flying or being aloft

10 : an obscene gesture of contempt made by pointing the middle finger upward while keeping the other fingers down —usually used with the

— called also finger

11 : birdie sense 2

for the birds

: worthless, ridiculous

bird

verb

birded; birding; birds

Definition of bird (Entry 2 of 3)

intransitive verb

: to observe or identify wild birds in their habitats

Bird

biographical name

\ ˈbərd

Definition of Bird (Entry 3 of 3)

Larry (Joe) 1956– American basketball player

Other Words from bird Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about bird

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Examples of bird in a Sentence

Noun A large bird flew overhead. The birds were singing outside our window. He's a tough old bird. We met some smashing birds at the pub last night.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Nature cites a 2019 study that detailed more than 580 species of bird, 271 types of fish, 174 mammal species, 131 different reptiles and 57 amphibian species known to inhabit the Pantanal. — Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, "Wildlife Suffers as Brazil’s Pantanal Wetland Burns," 5 Oct. 2020 And while the bird-watching and tortoise-spotting there are unrivaled, the vessels that ply these waters tend to be, with a few exceptions, humdrum. — Nancy Trejos, Travel + Leisure, "The Cool New Cruise Ships Coming to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands," 3 Oct. 2020 The Test Kitchen prefers stuffing recipes baked outside of the bird, in a deep casserole dish, as the safest (and tastiest!) option. — Kate Merker, Good Housekeeping, "How to Prepare a Turkey for Roasting," 3 Oct. 2020 One used to be an East German border guard; the other grew up just west of the border and started bird-watching in the area at 13. — New York Times, "30 Years After Reunification, Old German-German Border Is a Green Oasis," 2 Oct. 2020 One used to be an East German border guard; the other grew up just west of the border and started bird-watching in the area at 13. — Christopher F. Schuetze New York Times, Star Tribune, "Old East-West German border is now a green oasis," 2 Oct. 2020 While most of us have been sticking close to home this year, bird watching has taken flight. — Larry Bleiberg, USA TODAY, "First flight: 10 great places where beginning birders can get their wings," 20 Sep. 2020 She’s been told the damage was caused by a bird strike rather than a hail accident. — Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, "Holy Moly, Look How a Bird Flattened This Plane's Nose Cone," 8 July 2020 With scenic vistas; paths winding through serene, verdant landscapes; and the opportunity to learn about conservation efforts, native plant life, bird watching or even beekeeping, public gardens are designed to entice the entire family. — Jeanine Barone, The Know, "9 lesser-known public gardens in Colorado that are worth a visit," 23 Feb. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb On Monday, a white woman named Amy Cooper went viral for threatening the life of a Black man, Christian Cooper (no relation), who was just trying to bird watch in Central Park in peace. — Kathleen Newman-bremang, refinery29.com, "The Pandemic Of Black Trauma Will Never End," 1 June 2020 Outdoor activities like trail running, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, birding, fishing, kayaking, traditional golf and disc golf are perfect for social distancing. — Josh Woods, The Conversation, "How lingering fears from the pandemic could change the way we watch and play sports," 22 May 2020 For a taste of nature, Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge, located on the north side of town, offers birding and wildlife viewing as well as miles of walking trails. — David James, Anchorage Daily News, "Exploring Fairbanks, the Golden Heart City," 9 Sep. 2015 Outdoor activities are still permitted, including bicycling, birding, boating, fishing, geocaching, hiking and hunting. — Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, "Prepare to pay fees at Indiana state parks starting May 15," 15 May 2020 With many birding hotspots closed and organized outings canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, birders have been forced to hang up their binoculars. — Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, "Take a Virtual Bird Walk With the Atlanta Audubon Society," 24 Apr. 2020 The Piney Woods Wildlife Society coordinates birding field trips for its members, and meets the third Wednesday of most months at the Dennis Johnston Park Big Stone Lodge in Spring. — Melanie Feuk, Houston Chronicle, "Active bald eagle nest in Tomball garners attention," 13 Mar. 2020 The basic tools for birding are not that expensive. — Popular Science, "How to start birding in any US city," 18 Mar. 2020 Mild temperatures and migrations make fall a great time for birding in San Diego. — Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Ladder-backed woodpecker is fond of the desert," 19 Sep. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bird.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.