Definition

1. Noun:

   • A warm-blooded, egg-laying vertebrate animal with feathers, wings, and a beak: This is the primary biological definition for a member of the class Aves.
   • A person, often with a specific characteristic (informal, sometimes derogatory): Used informally to refer to a man or woman, often implying a particular type of personality.
   • A game bird used as food: The flesh of a bird, especially a chicken or similar fowl, consumed as meat.
   • A shuttlecock: In badminton, the object with a cork base and feathered crown that players hit.
   • A jeering sound; a raspberry: A cry or noise made to express contempt or disapproval.

2. Verb:

   • To observe or watch birds as a hobby: The activity of birdwatching.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Animal):
  • We saw a beautiful red bird in the tree.
  • Birds migrate south for the winter.
• Noun (Person - informal):
  • He's a strange old bird.
  • She's a clever bird.
• Noun (Food):
  • We're having roast bird for Sunday dinner.
• Noun (Badminton):
  • She hit the bird perfectly over the net.
• Verb:
  • They go to the forest every weekend to bird.

Advanced Usage

• "A bird in the hand (is worth two in the bush)": Something you already have is more valuable than something you might get.
  • I turned down the job offer because my current position is a bird in the hand.
• "Birds of a feather (flock together)": People with similar interests or character tend to associate with each other.
  • They're always together—I guess birds of a feather flock together.
• "For the birds": Worthless, ridiculous, or not worthy of consideration.
  • His advice is for the birds.
• "To give someone the bird": To jeer at or boo someone; or to make an obscene gesture (the middle finger).
  • The angry crowd gave the politician the bird.

Variants and Related Words

• Birdie (n): A small bird; also the term for a shuttlecock in informal play or a score of one under par in golf.
• Birding (n): The activity of observing birds in their natural habitat.
• Birdwatcher (n): A person who observes wild birds as a hobby.

Synonyms

• Fowl (n): A bird, especially a domestic one kept for its eggs or meat.
• Avian (adj/n): Relating to birds; a bird (technical).
• Shuttlecock (n): The official term for the 'bird' in badminton.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Bird-dog (verb - informal): To follow or observe closely and persistently.
  • The reporter bird-dogged the candidate throughout the campaign.
• Bird-nest (verb): To search for birds' nests, often to collect eggs.
  • It's illegal to bird-nest in this protected area.

Related Idioms

• "To kill two birds with one stone": To accomplish two tasks with a single action.
  • By cycling to work, I kill two birds with one stone: I save money and get exercise.
• "An early bird": A person who rises, arrives, or acts early.
  • The early bird gets the worm.
• "A little bird told me": Used to indicate that you have heard a piece of information but wish to keep the source secret.
  • A little bird told me it's your birthday today.
• "A bird's-eye view": A view from a high position, looking down as if seen by a bird in flight.
  • From the tower, we had a bird's-eye view of the entire city.

Noun

1. badminton equipment consisting of a ball of cork or rubber with a crown of feathers
2. a cry or noise made to express displeasure or contempt
3. informal terms for a (young) woman
4. the flesh of a bird or fowl (wild or domestic) used as food
5. warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

Verb

1. watch and study birds in their natural habitat