thrush

IPA/θrʌʃ/
KK[θrˈʌʃ]IPA/θrʌʃ/

thrush — noun

  • thrushsingular
  • thrushesplural

1. a brown songbird with a pale, spotted chest, especially known for its clear, mus

1.nounB2
Definition

a brown songbird with a pale, spotted chest, especially known for its clear, musical singing

Example

Diya heard a thrush singing from the apple tree at dawn.

hear a thrush sing

A thrush landed on the fence and pecked at the wet grass.

thrush + landed on [place]

Common collocations
  • song thrush
  • mistle thrush
  • thrush song
  • hear a thrush sing
Synonyms
  • songbird

    broader term for any bird known for singing; not every songbird is a thrush

  • blackbird

    a related bird in the thrush family; not a general replacement for thrush

Grammar Patterns

a thrush

two thrushes

hear a thrush sing

Usage Note

This word usually refers to a medium-sized wild songbird rather than one exact species. People often identify a thrush by its repeated song and the spotted markings on its chest.

Common Mistakes

We heard a robin singing in the hedge, but it was a brown bird with spots.
We heard a thrush singing in the hedge.
A robin is a different bird; a thrush is usually browner and often has a spotted chest.

thrush — noun

1. a fungal infection, especially in the mouth or vagina, that can cause soreness,

1.nounB2
Definition

a fungal infection, especially in the mouth or vagina, that can cause soreness, itching, or white patches

Example

The doctor said the white patches in the baby's mouth were thrush.

white patches in the mouth

After taking antibiotics, Talia developed thrush and needed a cream.

develop thrush after antibiotics

Common collocations
  • oral thrush
  • vaginal thrush
  • have thrush
  • treat thrush
Synonyms
  • candidiasis

    the medical term for this infection; more formal and technical than thrush

  • yeast infection

    common everyday term, especially for the vaginal form

Grammar Patterns

have thrush

oral thrush

vaginal thrush

Usage Note

In British English, thrush usually means a Candida infection rather than a general infection. People often say oral thrush for the mouth and vaginal thrush for the genital infection.

Common Mistakes

I got thrush from a cold virus.
I got thrush after antibiotics upset the natural balance.
Thrush is caused by fungal overgrowth, not by a cold virus.
The baby has thrush in his lungs.
The baby has thrush in his mouth.
In everyday use, thrush usually means a Candida infection in the mouth or vagina.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These bird names overlap in everyday talk, but they point to different kinds of garden birds. A thrush is usually a brown songbird with a paler chest that often shows spots. A sparrow is smaller, plainer, and more strongly associated with streets, roofs, and feeding near people. A robin is easy to recognise because of its red or orange breast. A blackbird belongs to the same larger bird family as many thrushes, but learners usually picture a darker bird, especially the black male common blackbird. If you hear a rich repeated song from a brown bird with a spotted chest, thrush is the best choice.

thrush ↗sparrow ↗robin ↗blackbird ↗

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishOld NorseMiddle EnglishEnglish

English has two nouns spelled thrush. The bird name goes back to Old English thrysce, from an older Germanic bird-name. The medical sense appeared much later and is probably linked to a Scandinavian word for a mouth disease. The two senses now share one spelling in modern English, but they did not start as the same historical word.

First known use

12th century

12th century, in the meaning defined above Noun (2)