# stork

/ˈstɔɹk/ (US) · /stˈɔːk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stork
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. the bird

noun · CEFR B1

a large bird with very long legs, a long neck, and a long beak that usually lives near water.

For teachers: a large, long-legged, long-necked wading bird belonging to the family Ciconiidae, typically found in wetlands and known for building large stick nests.

- We saw a stork standing perfectly still in the shallow water of the marsh.
- The white stork is a migratory species that often builds its massive nests on top of chimneys or telephone poles in European villages.

### 2. mythical baby-bringer

noun · CEFR B2 · Humorous

a character in stories for children that is said to deliver new babies to their families.

For teachers: a mythical figure in folklore, depicted as a stork carrying a newborn infant in a cloth bundle to its parents.

- When the toddler asked where his new sister came from, his parents joked that the stork brought her.
- The imagery of the stork delivering a bundle remains a popular motif in greeting cards celebrating the birth of a child.

## Examples

- The stork flies over the lake to find food.
- The local park is a popular spot for storks to nest during the spring months.
- While the scientific community focuses on the migratory patterns of the stork, the local folklore insists that the bird is responsible for delivering newborns to their families.

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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.