Definition

Noun: A flamingo is a large wading bird known for its distinctive pink to scarlet plumage, long legs, a long neck, and a uniquely down-curved bill. It typically inhabits brackish or saline lakes and lagoons.

Examples

• We saw a flock of flamingos standing on one leg in the shallow water.
• The flamingo's pink color comes from the carotenoids in the algae and crustaceans it eats.
• The zoo has a special enclosure for its greater flamingos.

Advanced Usage

• "A flamingo of...": Used figuratively to describe something with a vivid pink color reminiscent of the bird.
  • She wore a dress in a flamingo pink.
• In heraldry and decorative arts, the flamingo is sometimes used as a symbol of flamboyance, beauty, or balance.

Variants and Related Words

• Flamingos (standard plural)
• Flamingoes (less common plural variant)
• Flamingo-like (adjective): Resembling a flamingo.
  • The sculpture had a flamingo-like grace.

Synonyms

• Wader (general term for long-legged birds that feed in shallow water)
• Pink bird (descriptive, informal)

Related Phrases

• Flamingo dance: A reference to the bird's stylized, group courtship displays.
• Stand like a flamingo: To balance on one leg.
  • The yoga instructor told us to stand like a flamingo.

Related Idioms

• "A rare bird" / "Rara avis": While not specific to flamingos, this Latin idiom for an extraordinary or unusual person could be applied to the flamingo due to its unique appearance.
• "To be in the pink": This idiom, meaning to be in very good health, shares an association with the color pink, which is the flamingo's defining trait.

Noun

1. large pink to scarlet web-footed wading bird with down-bent bill; inhabits brackish lakes