bird: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
A1Neutral
Quick answer
What does “bird” mean?
A warm-blooded vertebrate animal with feathers, wings, a beak, and laying hard-shelled eggs.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A warm-blooded vertebrate animal with feathers, wings, a beak, and laying hard-shelled eggs.
Often extended colloquially to mean a person (e.g., 'an odd bird'), or used figuratively in idioms and expressions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK slang, 'bird' is informal for 'woman' or 'girlfriend.' This usage is rare and dated in AmE. In AmE, 'bird' as a nickname for an airplane or golf score is more common.
Connotations
In AmE, primarily neutral or literal. In BrE, has an informal, working-class connotation when meaning 'woman.'
Frequency
The literal sense is equally frequent. The slang sense for 'woman' is declining but still recognized in BrE.
Grammar
How to Use “bird” in a Sentence
see a birdhear a birdbird fliesbird singsVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bird” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He spent the weekend birding in Norfolk.
American English
- She loves to bird in the local wetlands.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable for 'bird' as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable for 'bird' as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The bird sanctuary was full of activity.
American English
- We installed a new bird feeder in the yard.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; may appear in idioms about opportunity or efficiency ('early bird discount').
Academic
Common in biology/zoology contexts discussing species, migration, or ecology.
Everyday
Extremely common for literal references and idioms.
Technical
Used in ornithology; specific terms like 'passerine' are more technical.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bird”
- Incorrect plural: 'birds' not 'birdes'.
- Confusing 'bird' with 'bud' in pronunciation.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily a noun. It can be a verb (to bird/watch birds) but this is less common.
'Fowl' often refers to birds kept for meat/eggs (e.g., chickens) or hunted game birds, whereas 'bird' is the general term.
In British English, it's informal and can be seen as dated or mildly disrespectful depending on context. Avoid in formal settings.
The main difference is the 'r' sound: BrE /bɜːd/ (long vowel, non-rhotic), AmE /bɝːd/ (rhotic, with a pronounced 'r' colouring).
A warm-blooded vertebrate animal with feathers, wings, a beak, and laying hard-shelled eggs.
Bird is usually neutral in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”
- “Birds of a feather flock together.”
- “Kill two birds with one stone.”
- “The early bird catches the worm.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
BIRD: Beak, Insect-eater, Resting on trees, Downy feathers.
Conceptual Metaphor
Freedom, messenger, lightness (e.g., 'free as a bird'). Also used for surveillance ('bird's-eye view').
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase means 'to achieve two goals with one action'?