noun
egret
EE-gret
Egret (noun) means a long-legged wading bird of the heron family, usually with white plumage and a dagger-shaped bill, which feeds on fish and insects in shallow water. Example: “A great white egret stood motionless at the edge of the reeds.”
noun
1
A long-legged wading bird of the heron family, usually with white plumage and a dagger-shaped bill, which feeds on fish and insects in shallow water.
"A great white egret stood motionless at the edge of the reeds."
"Cattle egrets follow the herd, picking off the insects it disturbs."
How to use egret
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tall white wading bird in the heron family.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
great egret
snowy egret
cattle egret
little egret
a flock of egrets
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A great white _____ stood motionless at the edge of the reeds.
Etymology
From Old French 'aigrette', a diminutive of 'aigron' (heron), which is of Germanic origin. The same word gives English 'aigrette' for the plume worn as a head ornament.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for egret
See all rhymes for egret →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an egret and a heron?
Egrets are herons: they belong to the same family, Ardeidae, and the name is used mainly for the white-plumaged species. There is no strict scientific line between the two, and some birds, such as the great egret, are called white herons in parts of the world.
Why were egrets nearly hunted to extinction?
Their fine breeding plumes, called aigrettes, were prized for women's hats in the late nineteenth century, and whole colonies were shot during the nesting season. The outcry over the trade helped found early bird protection societies and led to some of the first wildlife protection laws.
What do egrets eat?
Mostly fish, frogs, crustaceans and large insects, taken by standing very still in shallow water and striking with the bill. Cattle egrets differ by feeding on dry land, following grazing animals and livestock machinery for flushed insects.
What is the meaning of egret?
"egret" (noun) means a long-legged wading bird of the heron family, usually with white plumage and a dagger-shaped bill, which feeds on fish and insects in shallow water.
