macaw

noun

ma·​caw mə-ˈkȯ How to pronounce macaw (audio)
: any of numerous parrots (especially genus Ara) of South and Central America including some of the largest and showiest of parrots

Illustration of macaw

Illustration of macaw

Examples of macaw in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Once, during a renovation, zookeepers had to move the macaws into a different aviary. Terrence McCoy, Washington Post, 23 Nov. 2023 The Spix's macaw, or the little blue macaw, may be the most endangered bird in the world. Discover Magazine, 29 June 2010 The role, a departure from the kinds of comedic parts that have made Louis-Dreyfus famous, sees her confronting tragedy, with the accompaniment of a giant macaw as a metaphor for death. Rebecca Keegan, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Sep. 2023 Not exactly the most beautiful of birds, especially at a facility that houses brightly colored toucans, flamingos and macaws. Scott D. Pierce, The Salt Lake Tribune, 18 Aug. 2023 In July, the anti-poaching nonprofit Freeland Brazil reported that Suriname’s forest service had seized seven golden lion tamarins and 29 endangered Lear’s macaws believed to have been trafficked from Brazil for sale in Europe. Christina Larson, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Aug. 2023 In July, the anti-poaching nonprofit Freeland Brazil reported that Suriname's forest service had seized seven golden lion tamarins and 29 endangered Lear's macaws believed to have been trafficked from Brazil for sale in Europe. Christina Larson The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 3 Aug. 2023 Others, however, including those from pheasants and macaws, are still being held. Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2023 Among the residents was an infant Catalina macaw, aka a rainbow macaw, a hybrid produced by a romance involving a blue-and-yellow macaw and a scarlet macaw. Detroit Free Press, 23 July 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'macaw.' 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

Portuguese (now obsolete) macao

First Known Use

1625, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of macaw was in 1625

Dictionary Entries Near macaw

Cite this Entry

“Macaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/macaw. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

macaw

noun
ma·​caw mə-ˈkȯ How to pronounce macaw (audio)
: any of numerous parrots of South and Central America that have a long tail, a harsh voice, and bright feathers

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