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Definition of bird noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

      

    bird

     noun
    noun
    NAmE//bərd//
     
     
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  1. 1a creature that is covered with feathers and has two wings, and two legs. Most birds can fly a bird's nest with two eggs in it a species of bird The area has a wealth of bird life. More than a third of North American bird species need urgent protection. Topic CollocationsThe Living Worldanimals
    • animals mate/breed/reproduce/feed (on something)
    • fish/amphibians swim/spawn (= lay eggs)
    • birds fly/migrate/nest/sing
    • insects crawl/fly/bite/sting
    • insects/bees/locusts swarm
    • bees collect/gather nectar/pollen
    • spiders spin/weave a web
    • snakes/lizards shed their skins
    • bears/hedgehogs/frogs hibernate
    • insect larvae grow/develop/pupate
    • an egg/a chick/a larva hatches
    • attract/find/choose a mate
    • produce/release eggs/sperm
    • lay/fertilize/incubate/hatch eggs
    • inhabit a forest/a reef/the coast
    • mark/enter/defend (a) territory
    • stalk/hunt/capture/catch/kill prey
    plants and fungi
    • trees/plants grow/bloom/blossom/flower
    • a seed germinates/sprouts
    • leaves/buds/roots/shoots appear/develop/form
    • flower buds swell/open
    • a fungus grows/spreads/colonizes something
    • pollinate/fertilize a flower/plant
    • produce/release/spread/disperse pollen/seeds/spores
    • produce/bear fruit
    • develop/grow/form roots/shoots/leaves
    • provide/supply/absorb/extract/release nutrients
    • perform/increase/reduce photosynthesis
    bacteria and viruses
    • bacteria/microbes/viruses grow/spread/multiply
    • bacteria/microbes live/thrive in/on something
    • bacteria/microbes/viruses evolve/colonize something/cause disease
    • bacteria break something down/convert something (into something)
    • a virus enters/invades something/the body
    • a virus mutates/evolves/replicates (itself)
    • be infected with/contaminated with/exposed to a new strain of a virus/drug-resistant bacteria
    • contain/carry/harbor bacteria/a virus
    • kill/destroy/eliminate harmful/deadly bacteria
     see game bird, seabird, songbird, waterbird
  2. 2(informal) a person of a particular type, especially someone who is strange or unusual in some way a wise old bird She is that rare bird: a politician with a social conscience.
    3. Idioms
    be for the birds (informal)
     
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    to not be important or practical
    a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush (saying)
     
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    it is better to keep something that you already have than to risk losing it by trying to get much more
    the birds and the bees (humorous)
     
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    the basic facts about sex, especially as told to children
    a bird's-eye view (of something)
     
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    a view of something from a high position looking down From the plane we had a bird's eye view of Manhattan.
    birds of a feather (flock together) (saying)
     
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    people of the same sort (are found together)
    the early bird catches the worm (saying)
     
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    a person who takes the opportunity to do something before other people will have an advantage over them
    give/flip somebody the bird (informal)
     
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    to make a rude sign at someone with your middle finger
    kill two birds with one stone
     
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    to achieve two things at the same time with one action
    a little bird/birdie told me (informal)
     
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    used to say that someone told you something but you do not want to say who it was
See bird in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Check pronunciation: bird

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