birthday
- 01 A1 Beginner
n.the day each year that is the same date as the day you were born.
n.the annual anniversary of the day on which a person was born.
Simple“She received many cards and presents for her tenth birthday.”
In context“Although he usually dislikes being the centre of attention, he agreed to a small family dinner to mark his fiftieth birthday.”
Usageoften used with the verbs 'be', 'have', or 'celebrate'
PitfallI have birthday today. It is my birthday today.In English, we usually say 'It is my birthday' or 'Today is my birthday' rather than 'I have birthday'.
Synonyms - 02 A2 Elementary
n.a party or celebration for someone's birthday.
n.a social gathering or celebratory event held to commemorate a birth anniversary.
Simple“Are you coming to my birthday next Saturday night?”
In context“The entire office was invited to the surprise birthday held in the staff lounge during the lunch hour.”
Synonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the anniversary of the day something like a company or country started.
n.the anniversary of the day on which an institution, organization, or nation was established.
Simple“The city is planning a huge parade for its 200th birthday.”
In context“The university celebrated its centenary birthday with a series of lectures and a formal gala for alumni.”
Synonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
v.to celebrate your birthday.
v.to engage in festivities or activities associated with one's birth anniversary. Intransitive use.
Simple“We are going to birthday in the city this weekend.”
In context“The group decided to birthday in style by booking a private suite at the most expensive hotel in the district.”
Usagethe verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object
From Middle English birthdai, birtheday, from Old English ġebyrddæġ (“birthday”), influenced by Old Norse burðr, equivalent to birth + day. Compare Saterland Frisian Gebuursdai (“birthday”), Dutch geboortedag (“birthday”), Low German Geboortsdag (“birthday”), German Geburtstag (“birthday”), Norwegian bursdag, gebursdag (“birthday”). Eclipsed non-native Middle English nativitee (“birth, nativity, birthday”), from Old French nativité, nativited, from Latin nātīvitas.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.