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

Elliptical wings–found in crows, blackbirds, ravens, thrushes and sparrows–are optimized for short bursts of high speed. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

While their slimy coatings deter some would-be-predators, raccoons, opossums, snakes, moles, toads, shrews, turtles, ground beetles, and birds, such as ducks, starlings, and thrushes, devour them with gusto. —Paul Richards, Field & Stream, 29 Feb. 2024

An uncontrolled growth of cells in your mouth may produce white patches on your tongue that look similar to oral thrush. —Amanda Gardner, Health, 21 Jan. 2024

The holiday weekend traffic on Interstate 5 had slowed to a crawl, the thrush of cars inching toward SeaTac airport moving at a painfully slow pace. —Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 30 Nov. 2023

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

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

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)