eyrie
C2literary, formal, ornithological
Definition
Meaning
the nest of a bird of prey, especially an eagle, built high up on a cliff or mountain.
A house, dwelling, or stronghold perched high up, suggesting inaccessibility, power, or seclusion. Often used metaphorically to describe a position of elevated status or isolation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Conveys strong imagery of height, wildness, and power. The metaphorical use is common in political or business writing to describe leaders or headquarters. The spelling 'eyrie' is predominantly British; 'aerie' is the common American variant.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: 'eyrie' is the standard British spelling; 'aerie' and 'aery' are standard American spellings, with 'aerie' being most common. Pronunciation also differs slightly.
Connotations
Identical in connotation—both evoke the same imagery of height and power. The word has a slightly archaic or literary feel in both dialects.
Frequency
Low frequency in both dialects, but slightly more likely to be encountered in British nature writing or historical fiction. The American spelling 'aerie' is the standard in modern US publications.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[bird of prey] + built + its eyrie + [prepositional phrase of location][building/castle] + perched + like + an eyrie + [prepositional phrase]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[to be/live] in an ivory tower (related conceptually, but 'ivory tower' implies detachment from reality, whereas 'eyrie' implies physical height and power)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Metaphorical: 'The CEO's office was an eyrie overlooking the financial district.'
Academic
In ornithology or environmental studies: 'The researchers located the golden eagle's eyrie using drones.'
Everyday
Very rare. Might be used humorously: 'Their new flat is such an eyrie—you have to take a lift to the 40th floor.'
Technical
Specific to ornithology and wildlife biology for describing raptor nesting sites.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- No standard verb form.
American English
- No standard verb form.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverb form.
American English
- No standard adverb form.
adjective
British English
- No standard adjective form.
American English
- No standard adjective form.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The eagle flew back to its eyrie on the cliff.
- From their eyrie in the corporate skyscraper, the executives planned their next move.
- The castle was built like an eyrie, impossible to attack from below.
- The philosopher's remote mountain cabin was his intellectual eyrie, far from the noise of the city.
- Conservationists monitored the vulnerable eyrie, ensuring the chicks' survival.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an EAGLE's nest high up, so high it makes your EYE RIE (a tear) from looking up at it. EYE-RIE.
Conceptual Metaphor
HIGH STATUS/ISOLATION IS BEING PERCHED HIGH UP (e.g., 'The billionaire lived in an eyrie above the city').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'ire' (гнев).
- The closest Russian word is 'гнездо' for the literal nest, but the metaphorical weight of 'орлиное гнездо' is needed for the full sense.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling: 'eirie', 'airy'.
- Mispronunciation: Pronouncing the 'ey' as in 'eye' (/aɪ/). The first syllable is like 'ear' (BrE) or 'air' (AmE).
- Overuse in everyday contexts where 'nest' or 'high place' would suffice.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most specific meaning of 'eyrie'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is used for the nest of any large bird of prey (e.g., hawk, falcon), though it is most strongly associated with eagles.
All eyries are nests, but 'eyrie' specifically refers to the large nest of a bird of prey, typically built in a high, inaccessible location. 'Nest' is the general term.
No, it is a low-frequency word. It is most often found in literary, descriptive, or specialist (ornithological) contexts, not in everyday conversation.
Link it to its meaning: think of 'Eye' (you look up at it) and 'Rie' (like 'crie' from cry, as in the cry of an eagle). The British spelling 'eyrie' contains 'eye'.