Definition

Noun: 1. A type of finch: A bird belonging to the finch family (Fringillidae) or the cardinal family (Cardinalidae), characterized by a very large, thick, and conical beak.

Usage

The word "grossbeak" is a common name used in ornithology and birdwatching to describe several species of seed-eating birds with notably large, strong beaks. It is typically used as a countable noun.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The evening grosbeak is a colorful visitor to winter bird feeders.
  • We spotted a pine grosbeak foraging for seeds in the conifer tree.
  • His field guide helped him identify the bird as a type of grosbeak.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often part of a compound name specifying a particular species (e.g., "rose-breasted grosbeak," "blue grosbeak"). In such cases, the focus remains on the defining characteristic—the large beak—of that specific bird.

Variants and Related Words

• Grosbeak (alternative spelling): The more common modern spelling, often used interchangeably. (e.g., )
• Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes): A specific European bird often referred to as a grosbeak due to its massive bill.

Synonyms

• Thick-billed finch (descriptive synonym)
• Large-billed finch (descriptive synonym)

Notes on Meaning

• The "gross" in "grosbeak" comes from the French word "gros," meaning "large" or "thick," referring directly to the bird's most prominent feature, its beak. It does not carry the modern English meaning of "disgusting" or "total."

Noun

1. any of various finches of Europe or America having a massive and powerful bill