wren

noun

\ ˈren

Definition of wren

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : any of a family (Troglodytidae) of small typically brownish oscine singing birds especially : a very small widely distributed bird (Troglodytes troglodytes) that has a short erect tail and is noted for its song

2 : any of various small singing birds resembling the true wrens in size and habits

Wren

biographical name

\ ˈren

Definition of Wren (Entry 2 of 2)

Sir Christopher 1632–1723 English architect

Examples of wren in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The wren parents sat in a nearby tree, gurgling and bubbling and calling to the young inside the box. — Sheryl Devore, chicagotribune.com, 9 July 2021 North of Boston, a sedge wren at Plum Island was noteworthy. — BostonGlobe.com, 10 Oct. 2021 Soon, one young house wren peeked outside the nest hole, saw its parents and took the plunge, landing safely on a branch. — Sheryl Devore, chicagotribune.com, 9 July 2021 To learn what makes these performances possible, neurobiologists studied the brain activity of one of Ecuador's most prolific songbirds, the plain-tail wren. — Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 14 June 2021 Each spring the wren nesting activity begins with an eager male loudly singing early in the morning, then pausing long enough to place a few twigs in the box before returning to his lilting vocalization. — San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 May 2021 Another migrant that has arrived lately and is a persistent singer is the house wren. — Jim Gilbert, Star Tribune, 6 May 2021 In Iberá National Park in Argentina, two wren-size, nearly identical species of bird live side by side, spending their days foraging for the same kinds of seeds and nesting in the same kinds of places. — Elizabeth Pennisi, Science | AAAS, 25 Mar. 2021 Note to readers: A recent item discussed a wren leaving a stick poking out of its nest boxes. — Val Cunningham Special To The Star Tribune, Star Tribune, 26 Jan. 2021

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