ENGLISH
REFERENCE

poultry

n. uncountable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈpoʊɫtɹi// UK //pˈəʊltɹi// poul·try

n. domestic birds kept for their meat or eggs, such as chickens, ducks, and turkeys.

n. domesticated birds raised for food, particularly chickens, ducks, and turkeys.


SIMPLE

We bought fresh poultry for the holiday dinner.

CONTEXTUAL

The farm sells its poultry directly to local restaurants every morning.

COMPLEX

Modern industrial farming relies heavily on poultry production to meet the global demand for affordable protein.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English pultrie, from Old French pouleterie, from poulet, diminutive of poule (“hen”), from Latin pullus (“chick”). For the development of Middle English /u/ to modern /oʊ/, /əʊ/ before /lt/, /ld/, /ln/, compare boult, boulder, colter/coulter, poultice, shoulder, won't.

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