scarecrow
/ˈskeəkrəʊ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈskerkrəʊ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsker-ˌkrō/ (ame, mw)
scarecrow — noun
- scarecrowsingular
- scarecrowsplural
1. a human-shaped figure built from wooden poles and covered with old clothes, plac
a human-shaped figure built from wooden poles and covered with old clothes, placed in a farm field to scare birds off the newly planted seeds or ripening crops
The farmer built a scarecrow from an old jacket and a straw hat before planting.
build a scarecrow out of [materials]
In the middle of the cornfield stood a crooked scarecrow, its arms stretched wide.
position: in the middle of + descriptive posture
Mei-Lin and her grandfather filled the scarecrow with straw and added old gloves for hands.
Heavy rain soaked the scarecrow's clothes, so the birds no longer seemed afraid of it.
Some farmers use shiny tape or electronic noise makers instead of a traditional scarecrow.
- effigy
a broader term for any sculpture of a person, often burned in protest; not limited to farms or birds
- bird scarer
a general term for anything that scares birds away, including scarecrows, reflective tape, or noise cannons
- decoy
used to attract birds for hunting rather than to scare them away; opposite purpose
用法筆記
The word focuses on the object itself rather than a specific function — even a scarecrow that no longer works is still called a scarecrow. The figurative use ('he looks like a scarecrow' meaning very thin or shabbily dressed) is informal and less common; learners are advised to use it with caution.