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bird

US //ˈbɝd// UK //bˈɜːd// bird
  1. 1 feathered animal (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    an animal with feathers and wings that usually flies and lays eggs.

    any member of the class Aves, characterized by feathers, a beak, and the laying of hard-shelled eggs.

    Example

    We sat on the park bench and watched the birds eating bread crumbs.

    Example

    Ornithologists observed several rare birds nesting in the cliffs, noting that their migratory patterns had shifted due to the unusually warm winter.
  2. 2 rude gesture (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate American English Slang

    a rude sign made by holding up your middle finger.

    the vulgar gesture of extending the middle finger as a sign of contempt or anger; usually used with 'flip' or 'give'.

    Example

    The angry driver gave him the bird after he took the parking spot.

    Example

    The player was fined by the league after he flipped the bird to the opposing fans during the final minutes of the game.
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  1. 3 aircraft (n.)
    C1 Advanced Slang

    a slang word for an airplane or helicopter.

    a slang term for an aircraft, often used by pilots or aviation enthusiasts.

    Example

    The pilot said it was time to get the bird into the air.

    Example

    The ground crew worked through the night to ensure the bird was flight-ready for the dawn reconnaissance mission.
  2. 4 prison sentence (n.)
    C2 Proficiency British English Slang

    time spent in prison.

    a period of time served in prison; often used in the phrase 'doing bird'.

    Example

    He’s doing bird for a robbery he committed last year.

    Example

    After serving five years of bird, he found it difficult to reintegrate into a society that had changed so much in his absence.

    Usage

    Commonly used in the idiomatic construction 'to do bird'.
  3. 5 watching birds (v.)
    B1 Intermediate Science

    to spend time looking for and identifying wild birds.

    to observe or identify wild birds in their natural habitat as a hobby.

    Example

    They spent the whole weekend birding in the national park.

    Example

    The group went birding along the coast, hoping to spot the rare plover that had been reported by local enthusiasts earlier that week.
  4. 6 easy course (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Dialect Informal

    an easy class or course at school that requires very little work.

    describing a university or school course that is notoriously easy to pass with minimal effort.

    Example

    I took a bird course in film studies just to get the credits.

    Example

    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 tip

    This usage is specific to Canadian English; in the US, this is often called a 'mick' or 'gut' course.
Idioms9 entries

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