merops: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely rare/technicalScientific/technical, historical/literary
Quick answer
What does “merops” mean?
Any bird of the genus Merops, comprising the bee-eaters.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Any bird of the genus Merops, comprising the bee-eaters; small, colourful Old World birds that feed on flying insects.
A technical ornithological term specifically referring to birds within the genus Merops, with no common figurative usage in modern English. In ancient texts, it could appear as a proper name.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage as it is a scientific Latin term. Both BrE and AmE ornithologists use the same term.
Connotations
Purely technical, with no cultural or regional connotations attached to the word itself.
Frequency
Virtually never encountered outside of ornithological texts, field guides, or academic literature in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “merops” in a Sentence
[The/This/A] merops [is/was] a type of bee-eater.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used exclusively in biological/zoological/ornithological papers and taxonomy.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
The primary context. Used in species identification, field guides, and scientific classification.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “merops”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “merops”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “merops”
- Pronouncing it /mɪˈrɒps/ (like 'my-rops').
- Assuming it is a common English noun.
- Using it without the genus capitalisation (correct: 'Merops', incorrect: 'merops').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an extremely rare technical term from ornithology (the study of birds).
It is pronounced /ˈmɛrɒps/ (UK) or /ˈmɛrɑps/ (US), with the stress on the first syllable.
It would be very unusual and likely not understood. The common name 'bee-eater' should be used instead.
As a genus name, it is often used in the singular ('Merops') to refer to the genus. When referring to multiple individual birds of the genus, the plural can be 'meropses' or more commonly, 'birds of the genus Merops'.
Any bird of the genus Merops, comprising the bee-eaters.
Merops is usually scientific/technical, historical/literary in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
MERops eats bees (and other insects) - think of 'MER' as a buzz and 'OPS' as optics for spotting them.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'merops' most appropriately used?