Word
woodpecker
Phoneticswood·peck·er, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈwʊdˌpɛkɝ/
UK/wˈʊdpɛkɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a bird that has a strong beak and eats insects that live inside trees. It is famous for hitting the wood of trees with its beak to find food.
n. any of various birds of the family Picidae, characterized by a long, chisel-like bill and a habit of pecking at tree trunks to find insects. Often used in a general sense to refer to any bird that pecks wood.
Examples
“A woodpecker is pecking at the old oak tree.”
“The rhythmic tapping of a woodpecker echoed through the forest as it searched for beetles under the bark.”
“While many species of woodpecker are known for their drumming behavior, the specific frequency and pattern of the pecks vary significantly between different genera and habitats.”
Examples
simple
“A woodpecker is pecking at the old oak tree.”
contextual
“The rhythmic tapping of a woodpecker echoed through the forest as it searched for beetles under the bark.”
complex
“While many species of woodpecker are known for their drumming behavior, the specific frequency and pattern of the pecks vary significantly between different genera and habitats.”
Etymology
From wood + pecker. Compare Middle English wod spek (“woodpecker”), Middle English wodehake (“woodpecker”), Middle English wodewale (“woodpecker”). Displaced speight.
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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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