hummingbird
Noun: A very small, brightly colored American bird known for its iridescent feathers and extremely long, slender beak. Its wings are specially adapted to move very rapidly, allowing it to hover in place and fly backwards.
The word "hummingbird" is used to refer to the bird itself. It is a countable noun. * The hummingbird is the only bird that can fly backwards. * We put out a feeder to attract hummingbirds to our garden. * I saw a ruby-throated hummingbird today.
- A hummingbird can beat its wings up to 80 times per second.
- The brilliant colors of the hummingbird are caused by light refraction, not pigment.
- That tiny hummingbird is fiercely territorial.
- "hummingbird feeder": A special container filled with sugary water (nectar) designed to attract and feed hummingbirds.
- Remember to clean your hummingbird feeder regularly to prevent mold.
- "hummingbird moth": A type of moth that mimics the appearance and hovering flight of a hummingbird.
- At first glance, I thought the hummingbird moth was an actual bird.
- Humming (adj/gerund): The word "hummingbird" comes from the humming sound created by its rapidly beating wings.
- The air was filled with the humming of bees.
- Trochilid (scientific family name): A formal term for any bird in the family Trochilidae.
- Nectarivore: An animal that primarily feeds on nectar (describes its diet, not the bird specifically).
The word "hummingbird" refers specifically to the bird and does not have other common metaphorical meanings. It is sometimes used in brand names for products that are small, fast, or agile (e.g., a helicopter model).
There are no common idioms that use the word "hummingbird" itself. However, its characteristics inspire descriptive phrases. * "busy as a hummingbird": Extremely active and constantly in motion. * She's been as busy as a hummingbird, flitting from one task to the next all morning.
There are no phrasal verbs associated with the word "hummingbird."
- tiny American bird having brilliant iridescent plumage and long slender bills; wings are specialized for vibrating flight