Definition

1. Noun:
   • A European songbird (Luscinia megarhynchos) known for its powerful and beautiful song, often heard at night: A small, brownish bird famous for its melodious vocalizations, particularly during the evening and night hours.
   • Florence Nightingale (1820-1910), the pioneering English nurse and social reformer: A historical figure celebrated for founding modern nursing and her work during the Crimean War.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Bird):

  • We could hear a nightingale singing in the woods at dusk.
  • The poet compared her voice to that of a nightingale.

• Noun (Person):

  • Nightingale revolutionized hospital sanitation and nursing practices.
  • She was inspired by the writings of Florence Nightingale.

Advanced Usage

• "To sing like a nightingale": To sing very beautifully.
  • The young soprano sang like a nightingale, captivating the entire audience.

Variants and Related Words

• Nightingale's song: The specific melodious call of the bird.
  • The nightingale's song is a classic symbol of spring in European literature.

Synonyms

• Songbird: A bird known for its musical calls.
• Philomel: A poetic or literary name for the nightingale.

Related Idioms

• "A nightingale in a gilded cage": Someone with talent or beauty who is trapped in a restrictive or luxurious situation.
  • The famous actress felt like a nightingale in a gilded cage, unable to leave her mansion.

Noun

1. English nurse remembered for her work during the Crimean War (1820-1910)
2. European songbird noted for its melodious nocturnal song