magpie

noun

mag·pie | \ˈmag-ˌpī

Definition of magpie

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : any of various birds (especially Pica pica) related to the jays but having a long graduated tail and black-and-white or brightly colored plumage

2 : a person who chatters noisily

3 : one who collects indiscriminately

magpie

adjective

Definition of magpie (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : collected indiscriminately : miscellaneous magpie compilations of unrelated tidbits— Helen R. Cross

2 : given to indiscriminate collecting : acquisitive what possible magpie instinct had impelled me to retain them— S. J. Perelman

Examples of magpie in a Sentence

Noun

media magpies will no doubt seize upon the president's latest gaffe and blow it all out of proportion

Adjective

a pack rat whose cramped apartment is filled with a magpie collection of books, old newspapers, and tchotchkes

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Elephants and magpies recognize themselves in mirrors. — David Scharfenberg, BostonGlobe.com, "Did humans drive this polar bear insane?," 13 July 2018 Birds such as crows, ravens, finches and magpies act as hosts for the disease. — Hannah Holzer, sacbee, "West Nile Virus season has begun: 8 birds have tested positive in Sac County," 25 June 2018 For the traditional Frankfurt fare, go to Atschel, magpie in local dialect. — Nina Adam, WSJ, "Frankfurt: A Business Traveler’s Guide," 22 June 2018 Image The omnivorous imagination of Alessandro Michele continues its march over the countryside, redesigning the hills and furrows of the modern wardrobe in the brand’s current magpie image. — Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, "Gucci Has a Rave in a Cemetery," 31 May 2018 The green magpies are one the most endangered birds on Earth. — Karel Janicek, BostonGlobe.com, "Prague zookeepers use puppet to raise endangered magpie," 18 Apr. 2018 The magpie chick which hatched a month ago is being kept in a box and fed using a puppet that imitates a parent bird. — Fox News, "Prague zookeepers use puppet to raise endangered magpie," 17 Apr. 2018 Festivalgoers can discover the bush cuisine that the aboriginal people have eaten for more than 65,000 years — there’s emu, chorizo, barramundi, magpie goose and more. — New York Times, "From Peppers to Pork Pies, the Most Interesting Food Festivals of the Year," 21 Feb. 2018 Members of the corvid family (songbirds including ravens, crows, jays, and magpies, to name a few) are among the most intelligent birds, though common ravens may have the edge on tackling tough problems, according to McGowan. — National Geographic, "Why Ravens and Crows Are Earth’s Smartest Birds," 15 Mar. 2018

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