bird's beak: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowNeutral, but primarily descriptive or technical (ornithology).
Quick answer
What does “bird's beak” mean?
The hard, projecting mouthpart of a bird, consisting of a horny covering over the jaws, used for eating, grooming, and manipulating objects.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The hard, projecting mouthpart of a bird, consisting of a horny covering over the jaws, used for eating, grooming, and manipulating objects.
May be used metaphorically to describe any pointed, tapering, or projecting part of an object that resembles the shape of a bird's beak.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use 'beak'. In American ornithological usage, 'bill' is slightly more common. In UK informal slang, 'beak' can also mean a magistrate or schoolmaster.
Connotations
Identical for the literal anatomical sense. The informal slang meanings are different and unrelated.
Frequency
More frequent in educational/children's contexts and general description than in formal scientific writing, where 'bill' or 'rostrum' is used.
Grammar
How to Use “bird's beak” in a Sentence
The [adjective] bird's beakA bird's beak for [verb+ing]The shape of a bird's beakVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bird's beak” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The gull tried to beak the chip from my hand.
American English
- The crow was beaking at the shiny object.
adjective
British English
- The bird's-beak moulding on the cornice is a classical feature.
American English
- The tool had a bird's-beak profile for detailed carving.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in biological sciences, particularly ornithology and zoology.
Everyday
Used in general description, often by children or when observing birds.
Technical
Standard term in ornithology, though 'bill' is often more precise; specific parts (culmen, tomia) are used for detailed description.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bird's beak”
- Misspelling as 'birds beak' (missing apostrophe).
- Confusing 'beak' with 'peak'.
- Using 'beak' for mammalian mouthparts (use 'snout' or 'muzzle').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in general usage they are synonyms. In scientific contexts, 'bill' is often the preferred term for the external structure.
No. 'Birds beak' is grammatically incorrect. The possessive apostrophe + s ('bird's') shows that the beak belongs to the bird.
Yes, all living birds have a beak (or bill). It is a defining characteristic of the class Aves.
A beak is the entire external jaw structure of a bird. A nose is specifically the external organ for smelling in mammals; birds have nostrils (nares) on their beak.
The hard, projecting mouthpart of a bird, consisting of a horny covering over the jaws, used for eating, grooming, and manipulating objects.
Bird's beak is usually neutral, but primarily descriptive or technical (ornithology). in register.
Bird's beak: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɜːdz ˌbiːk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɝːdz ˌbiːk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As sharp as a bird's beak (simile, rare)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A BIRD needs its BEAK to EAT and SPEAK (some birds mimic speech).
Conceptual Metaphor
A PROJECTING POINT (e.g., the beak of a plinth, the beak of a ship).
Practice
Quiz
In formal ornithology, which term is often preferred over 'bird's beak'?