skylark
SKEYE-lahk
Skylark (noun) means a small brown European bird known for singing while flying high in the air. Example: “A skylark sang overhead as we walked across the meadow.”
noun
1
A small brown European bird known for singing while flying high in the air.
"A skylark sang overhead as we walked across the meadow."
verb
1
(informal) To play around or fool about joyfully.
"The sailors were skylarking on deck during their break."
How to use skylark
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA songbird that sings high in the sky — or, informally, to mess about playfully.
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Word forms
- Plural
- skylarks
- Third person singular
- skylarks
- Past tense
- skylarked
Fill the gap
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A _____ sang overhead as we walked across the meadow.
Etymology
From "sky" plus "lark" (the bird); the verb sense arose around 1809 among sailors, possibly influenced by a northern English dialect word for "to play".
Class of 1809
skylark joined the language around 1809.
See the full Class of 1809 →
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “skylark” mean?
The word “skylark” means a small brown European bird known for singing while flying high in the air. In plain terms, a songbird that sings high in the sky — or, informally, to mess about playfully.
How do you pronounce “skylark”?
“Skylark” is pronounced SKEYE-lahk (/ˈskaɪlɑɹk/ in IPA).
How do you use “skylark” in a sentence?
Here is “skylark” used in a sentence: “A skylark sang overhead as we walked across the meadow.”
What part of speech is “skylark”?
Depending on how it is used, “skylark” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “skylark” come from?
The word “skylark” dates back to around 1809. From "sky" plus "lark" (the bird); the verb sense arose around 1809 among sailors, possibly influenced by a northern English dialect word for "to play".
How many meanings does “skylark” have?
“Skylark” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small brown European bird known for singing while flying high in the air.
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