razor-bill

A razor-bill dives into the ocean to catch a fish.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A seabird: "razor-bill" refers to a black and white seabird (scientific name Alca torda) with a thick, blunt, laterally compressed bill, found in the North Atlantic. It is also known as the razorbill.
   • The bird's bill: In a literal sense, it can refer to the sharp-edged, blade-like beak of this bird.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The razor-bill nested on the rocky cliffs of the island. (A specific seabird species.)
  • We spotted a razor-bill diving for fish near the shore. (The bird in its natural habitat.)

Advanced Usage

• "razor-bill colony": a group or breeding site of these birds.
  • The razor-bill colony on the remote island is thriving this season. (A large number of razorbills nesting together.)

Variants and Related Words

• Razorbill (n): an alternative spelling of "razor-bill," referring to the same bird.

  • The razorbill is closely related to the puffin. (Another name for the same species.)

• Bill (n): the beak of a bird.

  • The razor-bill's bill is distinctive for its shape. (The bird's beak.)

Synonyms

• Alca torda: the scientific name for the razorbill.
• Auk: a broader family of seabirds that includes the razorbill (e.g., the great auk).

Related Idioms

• None commonly associated with "razor-bill" as a standalone idiom. However, the phrase "razor-bill" may appear in ornithological contexts without idiomatic usage.