bird
/bɜːd/ (bre, ipa) · [bˈɚd] /bɜːrd/ (ame, ipa) · [bˈɚd] /ˈbərd/ (ame, mw)
bird — noun
- birdsingular
- birdsplural
1. an animal covered in feathers that has wings and a beak; most kinds can fly.
an animal covered in feathers that has wings and a beak; most kinds can fly.
Padma pointed to the red bird drinking at the garden fountain.
bird + place/object in view
A small bird built its nest above Reuben's front door.
At dawn, Mizuki heard one bird singing outside the hostel window.
The rescue team released the injured bird after its wing healed.
- fowl
more formal or technical, and often used for birds kept as food
- avian creature
scientific wording rather than normal everyday English
文法句型
a bird
flock of birds
用法筆記
The ordinary everyday word for this animal. It is broader and more neutral than fowl, which sounds more technical or relates to food.
常見錯誤
2. someone spoken of as a certain sort of person, often with an unusual, difficult,
someone spoken of as a certain sort of person, often with an unusual, difficult, or old-fashioned character.
The neighbors think Ezra is an odd bird, but he is kind.
odd bird = strange person
After retirement, Pedro became a stubborn old bird who trusts nobody.
Jenna is an unusual bird who keeps tropical fish in her office.
The crew called their coach a tough old bird after the rainy match.
文法句型
odd bird
old bird
用法筆記
Usually appears with adjectives such as odd, old, or tough. Distinguish from sense 3, which specifically refers to a young woman.
常見錯誤
3. a dated slang label used about a young woman, often in a disrespectful way.
a dated slang label used about a young woman, often in a disrespectful way.
Two drunk men kept calling the waitress a bird, and she walked away.
dated slang for a woman
That old sitcom talks about every young woman as a bird.
Harper hates being called a bird by strangers in pubs.
The review notes that bird sounds dated and disrespectful today.
文法句型
call somebody a bird
用法筆記
Mostly British and now often sounds sexist or disrespectful. Distinguish from sense 2, which can refer to a person of any gender.
常見錯誤
4. an informal word for the feathered object that players hit in badminton.
an informal word for the feathered object that players hit in badminton.
Adisa tapped the bird over the net to start the badminton drill.
bird = shuttlecock in casual speech
The plastic bird cracked, so Tomás opened a new tube.
Coach Lauren asked each pair to pick up the bird after practice.
One wet bird dropped short and landed near the service line.
- shuttlecock
the standard and more formal name for the object
文法句型
hit the bird
pick up the bird
用法筆記
Common in casual badminton talk. Coaches, catalogues, and rule books more often say shuttlecock.
常見錯誤
5. a drawn-out noise of booing or hissing that shows strong dislike or contempt.
a drawn-out noise of booing or hissing that shows strong dislike or contempt.
The mayor's promise drew a loud bird from the back row.
bird = jeering shout
One sharp bird broke the silence after the singer missed the note.
The crowd answered the referee's decision with birds and boos.
A single bird came from the balcony, then the whole hall joined in.
- cheer
shows approval instead of disapproval
文法句型
give a bird
draw a bird
用法筆記
Now old-fashioned. In modern English, speakers usually say boo or jeer instead.
6. a rude gesture made by raising the middle finger to show contempt.
a rude gesture made by raising the middle finger to show contempt.
The cyclist gave the taxi driver the bird and sped away.
give somebody the bird
Someone from the bus flashed a bird at the protesters.
After the insult, Dylan answered with a bird from across the street.
The umpire ignored the bird and kept the game moving.
- middle finger salute
a fuller and more explicit name for the gesture
文法句型
give somebody the bird
用法筆記
Common in phrases such as give somebody the bird. Distinguish from sense 5, which is a shouted reaction rather than a hand gesture.
bird — verb
- birdpresent simple I / you / we / they
- birds3rd person singular
- birding-ing form
- birdedpast simple
1. to watch wild birds and identify them in the places where they live.
to watch wild birds and identify them in the places where they live.
Every April, Paloma and her father bird along the estuary at sunrise.
bird + place = watch wild birds
Folake likes to bird in quiet marshes before the tourists arrive.
On weekends, Christopher birds with a notebook and a borrowed camera.
The club plans to bird on the island after the first winter storms.
- birdwatch
the clearer and more common verb for most learners
- go birdwatching
an even more explicit phrase for the same activity
文法句型
bird in [place]
bird along [river/coast]
用法筆記
Often used by hobbyists and conservation groups. Many learners will meet the more transparent phrase birdwatch more often.