bird
BURD
Bird (noun) means a warm-blooded egg-laying animal with feathers, wings, and a beak. Example: “A bird landed on the windowsill.”
noun
1
A warm-blooded egg-laying animal with feathers, wings, and a beak.
"A bird landed on the windowsill."
"They watched the birds migrate south for winter."
"The little bird sang from the top of the old oak tree."
2
(informal) An aircraft.
"The pilot took the bird up for a test flight."
"The mechanics worked all night to get the old bird ready for the air show."
"That shiny new bird on the runway belongs to the flying club."
3
(slang, British, dated/informal) A woman, especially a young one.
"He's been seeing that bird from the pub."
"In old comedy films, a character might call a lively young woman a good-looking bird."
"My grandad still says he met my gran, a lovely bird, at a dance."
4
(slang) The rude gesture made by extending the middle finger.
"He flipped the driver the bird after being cut off."
"It is very rude to give someone the bird, even when you are angry."
"The teenager was told off for giving the referee the bird."
How to use bird
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA feathered flying animal — plus several slang meanings for a woman, an aircraft, or a rude hand gesture.
When to use it
The "woman" sense is British slang and can sound outdated or disrespectful depending on context.
Common pairings
flip someone the bird
bird of prey
early bird
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Word forms
- Plural
- birds
- Third person singular
- birds
- Past tense
- birded
- Comparative
- birdier
- Superlative
- birdiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ landed on the windowsill.
Etymology
From Old English bridd, originally meaning specifically a young or small bird before broadening to cover birds generally.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for bird
See all rhymes for bird →Frequently asked questions
What does “bird” mean?
The word “bird” means a warm-blooded egg-laying animal with feathers, wings, and a beak. In plain terms, a feathered flying animal — plus several slang meanings for a woman, an aircraft, or a rude hand gesture.
How do you pronounce “bird”?
“Bird” is pronounced BURD (/ˈbɝd/ in IPA).
How do you use “bird” in a sentence?
Here is “bird” used in a sentence: “A bird landed on the windowsill.”
What is another word for “bird”?
Words with a similar meaning to “bird” include avian, birdie, feathered friend and fowl.
What part of speech is “bird”?
“Bird” is a noun.
Where does the word “bird” come from?
The word “bird” comes from Old English. From Old English bridd, originally meaning specifically a young or small bird before broadening to cover birds generally.
Is “bird” a common word?
“Bird” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “bird” have?
“Bird” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a warm-blooded egg-laying animal with feathers, wings, and a beak.
What makes an animal a bird?
Feathers are the defining feature — no other living animal has them. Birds are also warm-blooded, lay eggs, and have wings, a beak instead of teeth, and lightweight bones. While most can fly, feathers are the one trait shared by every bird and by nothing else alive today.
Can all birds fly?
No. Although wings and flight define birds in most people's minds, several species are flightless. Ostriches, emus, and kiwis run instead, while penguins use their wings to swim. These birds still have feathers and lay eggs, so they remain true birds despite never leaving the ground.
Are birds related to dinosaurs?
Yes. Scientists widely agree that birds descended from small, feathered theropod dinosaurs, making them the closest living relatives of creatures like Tyrannosaurus rex. In effect, modern birds are living dinosaurs, which is why they share features such as hollow bones and egg-laying with their ancient ancestors.
What are the main types of birds?
Birds are grouped into families by shared traits: songbirds such as sparrows and robins, birds of prey like eagles and owls, waterfowl including ducks and swans, seabirds, and flightless birds. There are roughly ten thousand species worldwide, ranging from tiny hummingbirds to towering ostriches.
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