hummingbird

[huhm-ing-burd]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a very small nectar-sipping New World bird of the family Trochilidae, characterized by the brilliant, iridescent plumage of the male, a slender bill, and narrow wings, the extremely rapid beating of which produces a humming humming sound: noted for their ability to hover and to fly upward, downward, and backward in a horizontal position.

hummingbird

/ ˈ��ʌ��ɪŋˌ��ɜː�� /

noun

any very small American bird of the family Trochilidae, having a brilliant iridescent plumage, long slender bill, and wings specialized for very powerful vibrating flight: order Apodiformes

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of hummingbird¹

An Americanism dating back to 1625–35; humming + bird

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Like all California fuchsias, this is a hummingbird magnet.

From

The largest animal Alexander and Macias have preserved was an 11-foot-long buffalo, while the smallest, not including insects, was a hummingbird.

From

There are large mounds of California buckwheat, tall spires of sweet hummingbird sage and incandescently purple clusters of showy penstemon.

From

Now their gardens and the Coplens’ are alive with pollinators such as butterflies, bees and hummingbirds as well as other beneficial insects we don’t usually consider.

From

These plants tend to support specific, sometimes rare species of pollinators like bees, hummingbirds, butterflies and moths, Andre said.

From

humming hummingbird moth

Browse