bird
- 01 A1 Beginner
n.an animal with feathers and wings that usually flies and lays eggs.
n.any member of the class Aves, characterized by feathers, a beak, and the laying of hard-shelled eggs.
Simple“We sat on the park bench and watched the birds eating bread crumbs.”
In context“Ornithologists observed several rare birds nesting in the cliffs, noting that their migratory patterns had shifted due to the unusually warm winter.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a rude sign made by holding up your middle finger.
n.the vulgar gesture of extending the middle finger as a sign of contempt or anger; usually used with 'flip' or 'give'.
Simple“The angry driver gave him the bird after he took the parking spot.”
In context“The player was fined by the league after he flipped the bird to the opposing fans during the final minutes of the game.”
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
n.a slang word for an airplane or helicopter.
n.a slang term for an aircraft, often used by pilots or aviation enthusiasts.
Simple“The pilot said it was time to get the bird into the air.”
In context“The ground crew worked through the night to ensure the bird was flight-ready for the dawn reconnaissance mission.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
n.time spent in prison.
n.a period of time served in prison; often used in the phrase 'doing bird'.
Simple“He’s doing bird for a robbery he committed last year.”
In context“After serving five years of bird, he found it difficult to reintegrate into a society that had changed so much in his absence.”
UsageCommonly used in the idiomatic construction 'to do bird'.
- 05 B1 Intermediate
v.to spend time looking for and identifying wild birds.
v.to observe or identify wild birds in their natural habitat as a hobby.
Simple“They spent the whole weekend birding in the national park.”
In context“The group went birding along the coast, hoping to spot the rare plover that had been reported by local enthusiasts earlier that week.”
Synonymsbirdwatch - 06 C1 Advanced
adj.an easy class or course at school that requires very little work.
adj.describing a university or school course that is notoriously easy to pass with minimal effort.
Simple“I took a bird course in film studies just to get the credits.”
In context“Students often flock to the introductory sociology module, as it has a reputation for being a bird course with a very high pass rate.”
Teacher's tipThis usage is specific to Canadian English; in the US, this is often called a 'mick' or 'gut' course.
Usage bird populations · bird flu · bird species