Get the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary app Find out more about Oxford American Dictionaries for learners of English Get an Oxford Advanced American Dictionary searchbox for your website Ask Text Checker

Definition of bird noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

Oxford3000

bird

noun
/bərd/ bird pronunciation American
 
1 a creature that is covered with feathers and has two wings, and two legs. Most birds can flya bird's nest with two eggs in ita species of birdThe area has a wealth of bird life.More than a third of North American bird species need urgent protection. see also game bird, seabird, songbird, waterbird2 (informal) a person of a particular type, especially someone who is strange or unusual in some waya wise old birdShe is that rare bird: a politician with a social conscience.IDIOMS

be for the birds

(informal) to not be important or practicalbe for the birds

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

(saying) it is better to keep something that you already have than to risk losing it by trying to get much morea bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

the birds and the bees

(humorous) the basic facts about sex, especially as told to childrenthe birds and the bees

a bird's-eye view (of something)

a view of something from a high position looking down
From the plane we had a bird's eye view of Manhattan.a bird's-eye viewa bird's-eye view of

birds of a feather (flock together)

(saying) people of the same sort (are found together)birds of a featherbirds of a feather flock together

the early bird catches the worm

(saying) a person who takes the opportunity to do something before other people will have an advantage over themthe early bird catches the worm

give/flip someone the bird

(informal) to make a rude sign at someone with your middle fingergive the birdflip the bird

kill two birds with one stone

to achieve two things at the same time with one action
kill two birds with one stone

a little bird/birdie told me

(informal) used to say that someone told you something but you do not want to say who it wasa little bird told mea little birdie told me
Usage notesTopic Collocations: The Living Worldanimalsanimals mate/breed/reproduce/feed (on something)fish/amphibians swim/spawn(= lay eggs)birds fly/migrate/nest/singinsects crawl/fly/bite/stinginsects/bees/locusts swarmbees collect/gather nectar/pollenspiders spin/weave a websnakes/lizards shed their skinsbears/hedgehogs/frogs hibernateinsect larvae grow/develop/pupatean egg/a chick/a larva hatchesattract/find/choose a mateproduce/release eggs/spermlay/fertilize/incubate/hatch eggsinhabit a forest/a reef/the coastmark/enter/defend (a) territorystalk/hunt/capture/catch/kill preyplants and fungitrees/plants grow/bloom/blossom/flowera seed germinates/sproutsleaves/buds/roots/shoots appear/develop/formflower buds swell/opena fungus grows/spreads/colonizes somethingpollinate/fertilize a flower/plantproduce/release/spread/disperse pollen/seeds/sporesproduce/bear fruitdevelop/grow/form roots/shoots/leavesprovide/supply/absorb/extract/release nutrientsperform/increase/reduce photosynthesisbacteria and virusesbacteria/microbes/viruses grow/spread/multiplybacteria/microbes live/thrive in/on somethingbacteria/microbes/viruses evolve/colonize something/cause diseasebacteria break something down/convert something (into something)a virus enters/invades something/the bodya virus mutates/evolves/replicates (itself)be infected with/contaminated with/exposed to a new strain of a virus/drug-resistant bacteriacontain/carry/harbor bacteria/a viruskill/destroy/eliminate harmful/deadly bacteria