fledgeless
/fledgeless/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Lacking feathers; not yet having developed the feathers necessary for flight. This is the primary biological meaning, describing a young bird that has not yet grown its flight feathers.
- Unfledged; inexperienced or immature. Used figuratively to describe a person or thing that is not yet fully developed or seasoned.
Usage and Examples
Literal (Biological):
- The fledgeless chicks huddled together in the nest for warmth.
- We found a fledgeless sparrow on the ground and carefully returned it to its nest.
Figurative (Metaphorical):
- The fledgeless reporter was nervous during her first live broadcast.
- His fledgeless ideas needed more research and development before they could be presented.
Advanced Usage
- "fledgeless state": Refers to the period or condition of being undeveloped or immature.
- The project is still in its fledgeless state and requires significant investment.
Variants and Related Words
- Unfledged (adj): A direct synonym, meaning not feathered or not yet mature. Often used interchangeably with "fledgeless."
- An unfledged bird cannot survive long outside the nest.
- Fledge (verb): To grow the feathers needed for flight.
- The young eagles will fledge in about ten weeks.
- Fledged (adj): Having developed feathers for flight; mature or experienced.
- A fully fledged pilot.
Synonyms
- Featherless: Lacking feathers.
- Immature: Not fully developed.
- Callow: Young and inexperienced (often used for people).
Antonyms
- Fledged: Having feathers; mature.
- Feathered: Covered with feathers.
- Experienced: Having knowledge or skill from practice.
Adjective
- (of an arrow) not equipped with feathers
- shot an unfledged arrow