thrush

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈthrəsh 

: any of numerous small or medium-sized birds of an oscine family (Turdidae, the thrush family) or in some classifications a subfamily (Turdinae of the family Muscicapidae) which are mostly of a plain color often with spotted underparts and many of which are excellent singers

thrush

2 of 2

noun (2)

1

: a disease that is caused by a fungus (Candida albicans), occurs especially in infants and children, and is marked by white patches in the oral cavity

broadly : candidiasis

vaginal thrush

2

: a suppurative disorder of the feet in various animals (such as a horse)

Examples of thrush in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The afternoon sun slants through the glass, throwing shadows on a small twisted-wire Tour Eiffel at his elbow, and in the greenery below, as if on cue, a thrush begins its song. —Nancy Hass Ilyes Griyeb, New York Times, 9 May 2023

That eerie call — a wood thrush or a hermit thrush? —Bradley Allf, Discover Magazine, 31 Aug. 2021

Wood thrushes dueled with their melodious birdsong across the bog, sounding like an entire bird choir. —Madeline Bodin, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 May 2023

The study focused on birds that move at night, as most migrators do, particularly perching birds such as warblers, thrushes and sparrows. —Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 10 Oct. 2023

Losing about 40 pounds due to nausea and thrush, Alfa could barely recognize herself and avoided FaceTiming her friends and boyfriend. —Essence, 25 Sep. 2023

The bird is a blue-gray and yellow thrush sized bird with a chirp that sounds similar to a cricket. Costa Rica and Panama are home to over 50 species of hummingbirds. —Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 3 May 2023

Sightings of seagulls have been made as well as thrushes and robins. —Jeff Lowenfels, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Apr. 2023

Finally, in his 47th year of birding, Fischer saw his first varied thrush, a vagrant that spent five days in December 2013 at Stuyvesant Town in Manhattan. —Joe Trezza, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English thrusche, from Old English thrysce; akin to Old English throstle thrush, Old High German droscala, Latin turdus

Noun (2)

probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Danish trøske thrush, Swedish torsk

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1665, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing thrush

• song thrush
• wood thrush

• song thrush
• wood thrush

Kids Definition

thrush

noun

ˈthrəsh

: any of a large family of small or medium-sized songbirds that are mostly of a plain color often with spotted underparts

Medical Definition

thrush

noun

ˈthrəsh 

1

: a disease that is caused by a fungus of the genus Candida (C. albicans), occurs especially in infants and children, and is marked by white patches in the oral cavity

broadly : candidiasis

vaginal thrush

2

: a suppurative disorder of the feet in various animals (as the horse)