# eagle

/ˈiɡəɫ/ (US) · /ˈiːɡəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/eagle
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the bird

noun · CEFR A2

a large, strong bird that hunts animals for food and has very good eyesight.

For teachers: any of several large, diurnal birds of prey in the family Accipitridae, characterized by a powerful hooked beak and exceptionally keen vision.

- We watched the eagle soar high above the mountains looking for its next meal.
- The golden eagle is a formidable predator, capable of diving at immense speeds to snatch small mammals from the alpine meadows below.

### 2. golf score

noun · CEFR B2

a score in golf where you finish a hole in two strokes less than the standard number.

For teachers: a score of two strokes under par on a single hole.

- He was thrilled to hit an eagle on the fifth hole during the tournament.
- Achieving an eagle on a par-five requires both a powerful drive and a precise approach shot to the green.

### 3. historical coin

noun · CEFR C2 · American English · Archaic · Technical

a gold coin worth ten dollars that was used in the United States in the past.

For teachers: a former gold coin of the United States with a face value of ten dollars.

- The museum displayed a rare gold eagle from the nineteenth century.
- Numismatists highly prize the 1907 Saint-Gaudens double eagle for its intricate design and historical significance in American coinage.

### 4. to score in golf

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to complete a hole in golf in two strokes under par.

For teachers: to achieve a score of two under par on a hole; used transitively or intransitively.

- She managed to eagle the final hole to win the championship.
- Few players in the field were able to eagle the long par-five, given the difficult pin placement and heavy winds.

## Examples

- The eagle flies high above the mountains.
- We used binoculars to spot a golden eagle nesting on the rocky cliffside during our hike.
- As an apex predator, the eagle plays a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance of its habitat by controlling the populations of small mammals and fish.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.
