Definition

1. Noun:
   • A large North American thrush with a rust-red breast and abdomen: A songbird of the thrush family, Turdus migratorius, common across North America, known for its distinctive reddish-orange breast and cheerful song.
   • A small European songbird with a reddish breast: A small bird, Erithacus rubecula, found in Europe, known for its tame nature and bright orange-red face and breast.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The American robin is a familiar sign of spring.
  • A robin was hopping across the lawn, looking for worms.
  • In the garden, a European robin perched on the fence post.

Advanced Usage

• "Round robin": A tournament or competition where each participant plays every other participant. It can also refer to a letter or petition circulated among a group, with each person adding their signature or comments.
  • The teams will compete in a round robin format before the playoffs.
  • They sent a round robin letter of complaint to the management.

Variants and Related Words

• Robin redbreast (n): A common name, especially in British English, for the European robin.
  • The robin redbreast is a popular image on Christmas cards.
• Robin's-egg blue (adj/n): A pale greenish-blue color, like that of an American robin's egg.
  • She painted the room a soft robin's-egg blue.

Synonyms

• American robin: .
• European robin: Redbreast, .

Related Phrases

• "The robin and the wren are God's cock and hen": An old English proverb or saying highlighting the robin and wren as special birds.

Related Idioms

• "The robin's pinfeather": An old, obscure term not in common use. The robin itself features in many cultural sayings and folklore, often associated with kindness, Christmas, or the arrival of spring.

Noun

1. large American thrush having a rust-red breast and abdomen
2. small Old World songbird with a reddish breast