noun
osprey
OSP-ray
Osprey (noun) means a large fish-eating bird of prey with a white underside and long, narrow wings, found on coastlines and near lakes worldwide. Example: “The osprey plunged feet-first into the river and came up gripping a trout.”
noun
1
A large fish-eating bird of prey with a white underside and long, narrow wings, found on coastlines and near lakes worldwide.
"The osprey plunged feet-first into the river and came up gripping a trout."
"A pair of ospreys built their nest on top of the old telegraph pole."
2
An ornamental feather, especially one used in old-fashioned hat-making (an aigrette).
"Victorian milliners once prized ospreys for decorating fashionable hats."
How to use osprey
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA fish-hunting hawk-like bird found near water almost everywhere in the world.
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Word forms
- Plural
- ospreys
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ plunged feet-first into the river and came up gripping a trout.
Etymology
From Middle English ospray, via Anglo-Norman ospriet, ultimately from Medieval Latin avis praedae, "bird of prey" — a phrase that got mixed up in Old French with this particular bird.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for osprey
See all rhymes for osprey →Frequently asked questions
What does “osprey” mean?
The word “osprey” means a large fish-eating bird of prey with a white underside and long, narrow wings, found on coastlines and near lakes worldwide. In plain terms, a fish-hunting hawk-like bird found near water almost everywhere in the world.
How do you pronounce “osprey”?
“Osprey” is pronounced OSP-ray (/ˈɑspɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “osprey” in a sentence?
Here is “osprey” used in a sentence: “The osprey plunged feet-first into the river and came up gripping a trout.”
What is another word for “osprey”?
Words with a similar meaning to “osprey” include fish eagle, fish hawk, orfray, ossifrage and osspringer.
What part of speech is “osprey”?
“Osprey” is a noun.
Where does the word “osprey” come from?
The word “osprey” comes from Medieval Latin. From Middle English ospray, via Anglo-Norman ospriet, ultimately from Medieval Latin avis praedae, "bird of prey" — a phrase that got mixed up in Old French with this particular bird.
How many meanings does “osprey” have?
“Osprey” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large fish-eating bird of prey with a white underside and long, narrow wings, found on coastlines and near lakes worldwide.
