Definition of "bird" in English

noun

1. An animal of the clade (traditionally class) Aves in the phylum Chordata, characterized by being warm-blooded, having feathers and wings usually capable of flight, having a beaked mouth, and laying eggs.

   • Ducks and sparrows are birds.

2. (obsolete) A chicken; the young of a fowl; a young eaglet; a nestling.

3. (cooking, slang) A chicken or turkey used as food.

   • Pitch in and help me stuff the bird if you want Thanksgiving dinner.

4. (slang) A man, fellow.

5. (UK, Ireland, colloquial) A girl or woman, especially one considered sexually attractive.

6. (slang) An aircraft.

7. (slang) A satellite.

8. (UK, with definite article, chiefly in phrases) Booing and jeering, especially as done by an audience expressing displeasure at a performer.

   • to give the bird

9. (with definite article) The vulgar hand gesture in which the middle finger is extended.

   • to flip the bird
   • 2002, The Advocate, "Flying fickle finger of faith", page 55. For whatever reason — and there are so many to chose from — they flipped the bird in the direction of the tinted windows of the Bushmobile.

10. A yardbird.

11. (slang, US) A kilogram of cocaine.

12. (slang, Canada, Philippines) A penis.

13. (informal) Snowbird (retiree who moves to a warmer climate).

verb

1. (intransitive) To observe or identify wild birds in their natural environment.

2. (intransitive) To catch or shoot birds; to hunt birds.

3. (intransitive, figuratively) To seek for game or plunder; to thieve.

4. (transitive, television) To transmit via satellite.

adjective

1. (Canada, colloquial, of a school or university course) Able to be passed with very little work; having the nature of a bird course.

noun

1. (slang) A prison sentence.

   • He’s doing bird.

verb

1. (transitive, slang) To bring into prison, to roof.