Definition

Noun: 1. A large European wading bird: The white stork (Ciconia ciconia) is a tall, long-legged bird known for its distinctive white plumage with black flight feathers and a long, pointed red bill.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The white stork is a beloved symbol of good luck and new babies in many European folklores.
  • We watched a pair of white storks building their large nest on the chimney.
  • The conservation program aims to protect the migration routes of the white stork.

Advanced Usage

• In heraldry and symbolism: The white stork frequently appears in coats of arms and as a national symbol, representing attributes like piety, vigilance, and fertility.
  • The city's crest features a white stork, symbolizing its long history and prosperity.

Variants and Related Words

• Stork (n): The general term for birds in the family Ciconiidae, which includes the white stork and other species like the marabou stork.
• Ciconia ciconia (n): The scientific binomial name for the white stork.

Synonyms

• Common stork: A direct synonym referencing its prevalence in its range.
• European stork: A geographical descriptor to distinguish it from stork species on other continents.

Related Phrases

• Stork's nest: Refers to the large, platform-like nests these birds build, often on man-made structures.
  • The villagers were delighted to have a stork's nest on their church tower.

Noun

1. the common stork of Europe; white with black wing feathers and a red bill