Illustration of bird
- 1 crest
- 2 crown
- 3 bill
- 4 throat
- 5 auricular region
- 6 breast
- 7 scapulars
- 8 abdomen
- 9 tarsus
- 10 upper wing coverts
- 11 primaries
- 12 secondaries
- 13 rectrix
- 14 tail
often attributive
1
archaic
: the young of a feathered vertebrate
2
: any of a class (Aves) of warm-blooded vertebrates distinguished by having the body more or less completely covered with feathers and the forelimbs modified as wings
3
: a game bird
4
6
7
chiefly British
a
: a hissing or jeering sound expressive of disapproval
b
: dismissal from employment
8
: a thin piece of meat rolled up with stuffing and cooked
9
: a man-made object (such as an aircraft, rocket, or satellite) that resembles a bird especially by flying or being aloft
10
: an obscene gesture of contempt made by pointing the middle finger upward while keeping the other fingers down
—usually used with the
called also finger
11
see also:
Examples of bird in a Sentence
Noun
A large bird flew overhead.
The birds were singing outside our window.
He's a tough old bird.
We met some smashing birds at the pub last night.
Recent Examples on the Web
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Apr. 2026
The Eastern Colorado prairie was once carpeted with a mix of hardy grasses, flowering plants, and small shrubs that supported great herds of bison and pronghorn, abundant prairie dog colonies, predators like coyotes, foxes, and badgers, as well as numerous bird species, reptiles, and insects.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 7 Apr. 2026
Dan Robson, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Go birding in secluded preserves or kayak along serene waterways.
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bird
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Noun
The wildlife component in particular adds something different—flamingos, sea turtles, and tropical birds are woven into the resort in a way that feels interactive rather than staged, and the daily flamingo parade is a highlight.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Apr. 2026
The Eastern Colorado prairie was once carpeted with a mix of hardy grasses, flowering plants, and small shrubs that supported great herds of bison and pronghorn, abundant prairie dog colonies, predators like coyotes, foxes, and badgers, as well as numerous bird species, reptiles, and insects.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
Crosby is interested in birding.
—Dan Robson, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Go birding in secluded preserves or kayak along serene waterways.
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bird
Cite this Entry
“Bird.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bird. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bird
1 of 2 noun1
: any of a class of warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrate animals with the body covered with feathers and the forelimbs modified as wings
2
: individual sense 2, fellow
especially
: a peculiar person
bird
2 of 2 verb
: to observe or identify wild birds in their natural environment
birder
noun
Biographical Definition
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