noun
toucan
TOO-kuhn
Toucan (noun) means a brightly coloured, fruit-eating bird native to Central and South America, known for its large, colourful beak. Example: “A toucan hopped along the branch, its huge beak catching the light.”
noun
1
A brightly coloured, fruit-eating bird native to Central and South America, known for its large, colourful beak.
"A toucan hopped along the branch, its huge beak catching the light."
"Toucans use their oversized beaks to reach fruit growing at the ends of branches."
"The zoo's rainforest aviary housed several toucans."
How to use toucan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA toucan is a colourful tropical bird best known for its huge beak.
When to use it
This is a neutral, everyday word used in both ordinary and scientific contexts.
Common pairings
a toucan's large beak
a brightly coloured toucan
spot a toucan
a toucan in the rainforest
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A _____ hopped along the branch, its huge beak catching the light.
Etymology
Toucan came into English from French toucan, which was borrowed from the Old Tupi word tukana. That word is traced further back to Proto-Tupi-Guarani and, before that, Proto-Tupian roots.
Frequently asked questions
Where do toucans live?
They are neotropical birds, native to Central and South America.
What do toucans eat?
They are frugivorous birds, meaning fruit forms the main part of their diet.
Where does the word toucan come from?
It reached English through French, which had borrowed it from an Old Tupi word for the bird.
What is the meaning of toucan?
"toucan" (noun) means a brightly coloured, fruit-eating bird native to Central and South America, known for its large, colourful beak.
