eider

/'aidə/
Học thuật
Thân thiện
eider

A mother eider sits on her nest of soft down.

Definition

Noun: 1. A large sea duck: A type of duck found in northern coastal regions, particularly valued for the exceptionally soft and warm down (feathers) the female plucks from her breast to line her nest. 2. Eiderdown: The down itself, which is commercially collected for use in luxury bedding and clothing.

Examples
  • The eider is a sturdy bird that dives for mollusks and crustaceans.
  • Conservation efforts focus on protecting eider nesting sites along the rocky shorelines.
  • The most prized filling for a duvet is eider down.
Advanced Usage
  • Collective noun: A group of these ducks can be called a "raft" of eiders.
  • Specific species: The term often refers specifically to the Common Eider (), but it is also used for other species in the genus and .
Variants and Related Words
  • Eiderdown (noun): 1. The down of the eider duck. 2. A quilt or duvet stuffed with this down or a similar soft material.
    • She wrapped herself in an eiderdown to keep warm.
Synonyms
  • Sea duck
  • (For the down): Down, plumage
Related Phrases
  • Eider duck: The full, more descriptive term for the bird.
  • Eider nesting colony: A specific area where many eiders gather to breed.
eider

A mother eider sits on her nest of soft down.

Noun
  1. duck of the northern hemisphere much valued for the fine soft down of the females