bird

/bɜːrd/
noun★Beginner— a feathered, winged animal that typically can fly
general

a warm-blooded vertebrate animal with feathers, wings, and a beak, most of which can fly

The bird built a nest in the garden.

A bird made a nest in the garden.

💡

Birds are a diverse group of animals that include species ranging from tiny hummingbirds to large ostriches.

informalslang

a person, especially a young woman, in informal or slang contexts

She's a cool bird and always knows what's happening.

She is a trendy and well-informed person.

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This usage is less common and often considered outdated or regional.

Collocations

bird of preya bird that hunts other animals for foodbirdwatchingthe activity of observing and identifying birdsfree as a birdcompletely free and unrestricted

Related Phrases

bird's-eye viewphrase
a view from above, as if from a bird's perspective
kill two birds with one stoneidiom
to accomplish two tasks with a single action

💡Pro Tip

Common Usage

The word 'bird' is most commonly used to refer to feathered animals, but be aware of its informal usage to describe people.

⚡Gold Rule

Capitalization

The word 'bird' is not capitalized unless it is part of a proper noun, such as 'Bird Island'.

📖Word Origin

Old English 'brid', from Proto-Germanic 'brēdą', related to 'bear' (as in 'to bear young').

📝Usage Notes

The word 'bird' is commonly used to refer to any feathered, winged animal, but it can also be used informally to refer to a person, particularly a young woman.

Word Breakdown

bird
a feathered, winged animal
root
English Dictionary