eagle
EE-guhl
Eagle (noun) means a large, powerful bird of prey with a hooked beak and excellent eyesight. Example: “The eagle dived from the cliff and caught a fish in its claws.”
noun
1
A large, powerful bird of prey with a hooked beak and excellent eyesight.
"The eagle dived from the cliff and caught a fish in its claws."
"Farmers in the mountains sometimes see an eagle soaring over the valley."
"A bald eagle circled high above the river."
2
In golf, a score of two strokes under par on a hole.
"He needed an eagle on the last hole to win the club trophy."
"Making an eagle is rare for most weekend golfers."
"She sank a long putt on the 18th for an eagle."
verb
1
In golf, to complete a hole in two strokes under par.
"If she eagles the next hole, she will catch up with the leader."
"He eagled the short par-four with a brilliant drive and a chip."
"He eagled the par-five to take the lead."
How to use eagle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA large bird of prey — or, in golf, scoring two under par on a hole.
Common pairings
bald eagle
golden eagle
shoot an eagle
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Word forms
- Plural
- eagles
- Third person singular
- eagles
- Past tense
- eagled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ dived from the cliff and caught a fish in its claws.
Etymology
From Old French aigle, from Latin aquila — it replaced the native Old English word "earn" (still surviving as "erne").
Synonyms
View more →
raptor
bird of prey
Related words
Rhymes for eagle
See all rhymes for eagle →Frequently asked questions
What does “eagle” mean?
The word “eagle” means a large, powerful bird of prey with a hooked beak and excellent eyesight. In plain terms, a large bird of prey — or, in golf, scoring two under par on a hole.
How do you pronounce “eagle”?
“Eagle” is pronounced EE-guhl (/ˈiːɡəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “eagle” in a sentence?
Here is “eagle” used in a sentence: “A bald eagle circled high above the river.”
What part of speech is “eagle”?
Depending on how it is used, “eagle” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “eagle” come from?
The word “eagle” comes from Latin. From Old French aigle, from Latin aquila — it replaced the native Old English word "earn" (still surviving as "erne").
Is “eagle” a common word?
“Eagle” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “eagle” have?
“Eagle” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large, powerful bird of prey with a hooked beak and excellent eyesight.
What is the difference between an "eagle" and a "hawk"?
Both are birds of prey with hooked beaks and sharp eyesight, but eagles are generally much larger and more powerful than hawks, with longer wingspans. Size and strength are the main features that distinguish an eagle from a smaller hawk.
What is the difference between an "eagle" and a "birdie" in golf?
In golf, an "eagle" is a score of two strokes under par on a hole, while a "birdie" is one stroke under par. An eagle is therefore the better score of the two, being one stroke lower than a birdie.
What is better than an "eagle" in golf?
In golf, scoring an "albatross" (also called a double eagle) is better than an eagle, as it is three strokes under par on a single hole. An eagle is two under par, so an albatross beats it by one stroke.
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