shrike

/ʃraik/

Thân thiện

A shrike perches on a thorny branch with a captured insect.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A shrike is any of numerous Old World birds having a strong hooked bill that feed on smaller animals. They are known for their predatory habits, often impaling their prey on thorns or barbed wire.

Usage

• The word shrike is a countable noun. It refers specifically to a type of passerine bird.
• Example:
• Example:

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "Shrike" in Ornithology: The term is used technically to classify birds in the family Laniidae.
  • The paper compared the migratory patterns of several shrike species.
• Metaphorical Use: Rarely, "shrike" can be used metaphorically to describe a relentlessly predatory or vicious person.
  • In the novel, the antagonist was a shrike of a lawyer, destroying his opponents.

Variants and Related Words

• Butcherbird: A common name for shrikes, referring to their food-storage behavior.
• Loggerhead Shrike: A specific North American species ().
• Great Grey Shrike: A specific Eurasian species ().

Synonyms

• Butcherbird: This is the most common synonym, emphasizing the bird's characteristic behavior.

Related Phrases and Idioms

Học thuật

Noun

1. any of numerous Old World birds having a strong hooked bill that feed on smaller animals