bird
bird
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "bird" is /bɜːrd/.
/b/ - voiced bilabial plosive
/ɜː/ - open-mid central unrounded vowel (long)
/r/ - voiced alveolar approximant
/d/ - voiced alveolar plosive
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: bird
Plural Noun: birds
Possessive Singular Noun: bird's
Possessive Plural Noun: birds'
Verb (base form): bird (less common, usually in specific contexts like "bird-watching")
Verb (third person singular present): birds
Verb (present participle): birding
Verb (past tense/past participle): birded
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A warm-blooded, egg-laying vertebrate distinguished by the possession of feathers, wings, a beak, and typically by being able to fly.
Synonyms: fowl, avian, creature (general)
Antonyms: mammal, fish, reptile (in the context of biological classification)
Definition 2 (Slang, often derogatory): A young woman or girl.
Synonyms: girl, chick (slang), lass (informal)
Antonyms: man, boy
Definition 3 (Informal, often in the phrase "old bird"): An elderly or eccentric person.
Synonyms: character, eccentric, individual
Antonyms: (Context-dependent, no direct antonyms for this informal usage)
Verb
Definition 1: To observe or hunt birds. (Often used in compound forms like "bird-watch" or "bird-hunt.")
Synonyms: observe (in the context of bird-watching), hunt (in the context of bird hunting), fowl (archaic)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it describes a specific action)
Examples of Use
Books:
"Atticus said, 'You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view—until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.' Jem said, 'That's what I mean—Scout, you got to learn to be a lady.' That was when I was nine. I never could stand being called a lady. I don't know what it is about that word, it always sounded like a bird to me." (Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird)
"The early bird catches the worm." (Common proverb, appearing in numerous publications on proverbs and folk wisdom, e.g., The Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs)
Newspapers:
"Conservation efforts are underway to protect the endangered Kakapo, a flightless bird native to New Zealand." (Example headline, The Guardian, often seen in environmental news sections)
"Local authorities are advising residents to take down bird feeders to prevent the spread of avian flu." (Example news report, The New York Times, regularly featured in health or local news sections)
Online Publications:
"How to attract more diverse bird species to your backyard." (Article title, Audubon.org, a prominent online resource for bird enthusiasts)
"The majestic bald eagle, a symbol of freedom, is a powerful predatory bird with a wingspan of up to seven feet." (Informational text, National Geographic Online, commonly found in wildlife sections)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "The Birdcage" (1996 movie title, referring to the nightclub owned by the main characters, playing on the informal sense of a "bird" as a person)
Music: "Free Bird" (Song title by Lynyrd Skynyrd, a classic rock anthem often interpreted as a metaphor for freedom or a wandering spirit)
Television: "Angry Birds" (Title of an animated television series based on the popular video game, featuring anthropomorphic birds)
Video Games: "Flappy Bird" (Popular mobile game title, where the player controls a small bird navigating obstacles)
Podcasts: "This week on 'The Bird Call,' we're discussing the surprising migration patterns of arctic terns." (Podcast episode title, common in nature or ornithology-focused podcasts)
General Public Discourse:
"Did you see that beautiful blue bird in the garden this morning?" (Casual conversation among friends or family, everyday observation)
"She's a real early bird, always up before dawn." (Idiomatic expression, describing someone who wakes up early)
"I heard a little bird told him about the surprise party." (Common idiom, meaning "someone secretly told me," implying gossip or confidential information)
"Look at that bird flying so high!" (Comment from a child pointing to the sky, demonstrating basic vocabulary acquisition)
10 Famous Quotes Using Bird
"The early bird catches the worm." (Proverb, widely attributed)
"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." (Proverb, widely attributed)
"Hope is the thing with feathers / That perches in the soul / And sings the tune without the words / And never stops at all." (Emily Dickinson, " 'Hope' is the thing with feathers")
"I'm not a bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will." (Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre)
"Every bird a nest, every fox a hole, every man a heart." (African Proverb)
"No bird soars too high, if he soars with his own wings." (William Blake, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell)
"How many a solitary bird has sung his sweet heart out in a world where there was none to listen." (Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Blithedale Romance)
"My advice to you is to be bird-brained and just fly." (Will Arnett as BoJack Horseman, BoJack Horseman)
"The bird is freed from the cage." (Malcolm X, referring to his spiritual awakening)
"I like to bird-watch. It's a nice way to spend the afternoon." (Roger Tory Peterson, American ornithologist and artist)
Etymology
The word "bird" has a pretty interesting past!
In Old English (which was spoken before about 1150 AD), the word we now know as "bird" actually started as "bridd" (sometimes spelled "brid"). But here's the surprising part: "bridd" didn't originally mean any feathered creature. Instead, it specifically referred to a "young bird" or a "nestling" – essentially, what we would call a chick today.
At that time, the more common and general word for a feathered animal that could fly was "fugol" (which is where our modern word "fowl" comes from).
So, imagine this: hundreds of years ago, if you saw a grown eagle soaring, you'd call it a "fugol." But if you saw a tiny, fluffy chick in a nest, you'd call it a "bridd."
Over time, especially during the Middle English period (roughly 1150-1500 AD), the meaning of "bridd" started to expand. People began using it for all feathered creatures, not just the young ones. The spelling also changed, sometimes appearing as "byrd" before settling on "bird" around Shakespeare's time (16th century).
What's really curious is that the origin of "bridd" itself is a bit of a mystery. It doesn't seem to have clear relatives in other old Germanic languages. Some theories connect it to words like "brood" or "breed," suggesting a link to the idea of "being born" or "offspring," which makes sense given its original meaning of a young creature.
So, in simple terms: "bird" started out meaning a baby bird, slowly took over the job of describing all birds from the older word "fowl," and its exact ancient roots are still a bit of a puzzle for language experts!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Bird
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
The early bird catches the worm.
Kill two birds with one stone.
For the birds.
A little bird told me.
Bird-brained.
Bird's-eye view.
Free as a bird.
Bird of paradise.
Odd bird.
Bird of prey.
As the crow flies (using a synonym for "bird").
To feather one's nest (often associated with birds).
Chirping like a bird (less common, descriptive).
Sing like a bird.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of bird from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
