Word
goldeneye
Phoneticsgold·en·eye, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɡoʊɫdəˌnaɪ/
UK/ɡˈəʊldənˌaɪ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a small duck that dives for food and has bright yellow eyes. You often see it on lakes and rivers in cold northern places.
n. a small diving duck of northern lakes and rivers, distinguished by bright yellow eyes and a dark head. The male has a white cheek patch and striking black-and-white plumage.
Examples
“The goldeneye dives underwater to catch small fish.”
“We watched a goldeneye disappear beneath the lake and reappear seconds later with food.”
“At dawn the goldeneye rode the grey water, its yellow eye flashing each time it turned toward the light.”
Examples
simple
“The goldeneye dives underwater to catch small fish.”
contextual
“We watched a goldeneye disappear beneath the lake and reappear seconds later with food.”
complex
“At dawn the goldeneye rode the grey water, its yellow eye flashing each time it turned toward the light.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “goldeneye” in context.
Verb
01. goldeneye breeds
“The goldeneye breeds in tree cavities close to boreal lakes.”
noun + verb
02. goldeneye dives
“The goldeneye dives for seconds before resurfacing with a mussel.”
noun + verb
03. goldeneye nests
“The goldeneye nests in old woodpecker holes near fresh water.”
noun + verb
04. goldeneye winters
“This goldeneye winters on ice-free northern lakes and coastal bays.”
noun + verb
Adjective
05. barrow's goldeneye
“We identified a Barrow's goldeneye by its crescent-shaped white cheek patch.”
adj + noun
06. common goldeneye
“A common goldeneye surfaced nearby, its yellow eye flashing in the light.”
adj + noun
07. female goldeneye
“The female goldeneye led her ducklings toward the sheltered reeds.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. brood of goldeneye
“The brood of goldeneyes followed the female in a tight line.”
noun + prep + noun
09. flock of goldeneye
“A small flock of goldeneyes overwintered on the reservoir.”
noun + prep + noun
10. a pair of breeding goldeneyes
“A pair of breeding goldeneyes returned to the same nest box.”
11. a wintering flock of goldeneye
“A wintering flock of goldeneyes gathers where the river never freezes.”
12. hear goldeneye wings whistle
“In flight, you can hear goldeneye wings whistle overhead.”
Real-World Examples
“The common goldeneye is an active diving duck that can be identified by its golden yellow eyes and white, rounded face patches.” Etymology
From golden + eye.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/goldeneye