condor

noun

con·​dor ˈkän-dər How to pronounce condor (audio) -ˌdȯr How to pronounce condor (audio)
1
a
: a very large American vulture (Vultur gryphus) of the high Andes having the head and neck bare and the plumage dull black with a downy white neck ruff and white patches on the wings

called also Andean condor

2
plural condors or condores kən-ˈdȯr-ˌās How to pronounce condor (audio) : a coin (such as the centesimo of Chile) bearing the picture of a condor

Examples of condor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The plan was to film a car in an alley using lights mounted on a hydraulic boom called a condor, but the hydraulics failed at the last minute. Jon Healey, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2023 On Easter Sunday 1987, the final wild condor was brought in. Jake Frederico, The Arizona Republic, 6 Oct. 2022 Currently, there are three wild populations of condors: in Arizona/Utah, in California, and in Baja California. Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 16 Oct. 2023 Biologists are in the process of testing vaccines against the disease with a small group of condors and their relatives, black vultures. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Oct. 2023 The outlet added that crows and other species, like condors, are also attracted to shiny items. Marisa Sullivan, Peoplemag, 13 Oct. 2023 Pinnacles keeps tabs on all of the condors within its bounds and even has individual profiles of the birds online, as well as a memorial page for the condors that have died. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Aug. 2023 Zoo officials also envision a new visitor center and condor exhibit, both of which are criticized by hillside neighborhood and environmental groups as harmful to the habitat. Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2023 It was long believed that Quetzalcoatlus flew similarly to eagles and condors, using updrafts to fly. Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 8 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'condor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Spanish cóndor, from Quechua kuntur

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of condor was in 1604

Dictionary Entries Near condor

Cite this Entry

“Condor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/condor. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

condor

noun
1
: a very large South American vulture of the high Andes having the head and neck bare and the plumage dull black with a ring of white down behind the head
2

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