humming-bird

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small, often colorful bird: "humming-bird" refers to any of numerous species of small, primarily tropical American birds (family Trochilidae) characterized by their ability to hover and fly rapidly, often with a humming sound produced by their rapidly beating wings. They feed on nectar from flowers and have long, slender bills.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The humming-bird hovered in front of the flower, its wings a blur. (A small bird with rapid wing movement.)
  • We saw a ruby-throated humming-bird in the garden this morning. (A specific species of this bird.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be like a humming-bird": to be very quick, energetic, or constantly moving.
  • She darted around the room like a humming-bird, never staying still. (She moved with great speed and energy.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hummingbird (n): a common alternative spelling; the hyphenated form "humming-bird" is also correct.
  • The hummingbird visited the feeder several times a day. (Same meaning as humming-bird.)

Synonyms

• Nectar-feeder: a bird that primarily consumes nectar (a descriptive term, not a scientific synonym).
• Trochilid: a technical term for any bird in the family Trochilidae (used in ornithology).

Related Idioms

• Humming-bird economy: a metaphorical term referring to a very fast-paced, dynamic, but potentially fragile economy (often used in Latin American contexts).
  • The country's economy is often described as a humming-bird economy due to its rapid growth and high volatility. (An economy that moves quickly but is unstable.)

Etymology and Notes

• The name "humming-bird" comes from the characteristic humming sound produced by the rapid beating of its wings (often 50–200 beats per second). The hyphenated form is less common in modern usage but remains standard in some dictionaries.