plover

noun

plo·ver | \ ˈplə-vər

plural plover or plovers

Definition of plover

1 : any of a family (Charadriidae) of shorebirds that differ from the sandpipers in having a short hard-tipped bill and usually a stouter more compact build

2 : any of various birds (such as a turnstone or sandpiper) related to the plovers

Examples of plover in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The plovers appear to be making a new nest, said Louise Clemency of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. — USA TODAY, "Mowing quest, mayo man, soybean scare: News from around our 50 states," 17 June 2019 Male and female plovers take turns incubating their eggs, and this pair’s flawless changing of the guard is a healthy sign. — Washington Post, "Rising waters in the Great Lakes puts endangered shorebird at greater risk," 17 June 2019 Also spotted on the island were six common loons, two American golden-plovers, two roseate terns, and a seaside sparrow. — BostonGlobe.com, "bird sightings," 30 June 2018 Give the nesting plovers a wide berth and keep a close eye on thieving gulls hovering to snatch your roast beef from Kelly’s. — BostonGlobe.com, "The 20 best beaches to visit in New England," 2 May 2018 Tens of thousands of foxes exist in New Jersey… compare that with plovers. — Avalon R. Zoppo, Philly.com, "Foxes are disappearing from this Shore town, and residents finally know why," 27 Apr. 2018 The state has tried to help establish nesting areas for the plover farther north along the shore. — New York Times, "A New Jersey Town Actually Adds Beach Parking. And It’s on the Beach.," 28 May 2018 The clingy fog softened but could not hide the stark, otherworldly beauty of Holgate, uninhabited except for plovers, terns, skimmers, and oyster catchers. — Kevin Riordan, Philly.com, "A Shore wildlife haven is a source of visual and musical inspiration," 28 Apr. 2018 Rockport-Fulton The still-recovering coastal community's Rockport Beach Park offers close observations of egrets, terns, gulls, plovers, sandpipers and a blanket of nesting black skimmers. — Houston Chronicle, "Top birding spots around Texas," 10 May 2018

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