Bird

English

Pronunciation

• enPR: bû(r)d, IPA: /bɜː(r)d/, SAMPA: /b3:(r)d/

• Audio (US)

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• (mid-20th-century New York City) IPA: /bɜjd/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)d

Etymology 1

From Middle English, from Old English bird, brid, bridd (“young bird, chick”), of uncertain origin and relation.

Noun

Bird (plural Birds)

1. A member of the class of animals Aves in the phylum Chordata, characterized by being warm-blooded, having feathers and wings usually capable of flight, and laying eggs.
2. (UK, slang) A man, fellow.
3. (UK, US, slang) A girl or woman considered sexually attractive, as used by a man.

   Who’s that bird?

4. (UK, Irish, slang) Girlfriend.

   Anto went out with his bird last night.

5. (slang) An airplane.

Synonyms

• (man ): chap, bloke, guy
• (woman): broad, chick, dame, girl, lass

See also

• burd
• Appendix: Animals
• 15px Bird on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• 15px Bird on Wikimedia Commons. Wikimedia Commons
• 15px Aves on Wikispecies. Wikispecies: Aves

Verb

Bird (third-person singular simple present Birds, present participle Birding, simple past and past participle Birded)

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

Etymology 2

Possible literal translation of Chinese slang or other Asian origin

Noun

Bird (plural Birds)

1. (Filipino slang) A penis.

Noun

Bird (uncountable)

1. A prison sentence.

   He’s doing bird.

Synonyms

• (prison sentence): porridge, stretch, time

Noun

the bird (uncountable)

1. The vulgar hand gesture in which the middle finger is extended.

Derived terms

• flip the bird