grebe

[ greeb ]

noun

1. any diving bird of the family Podicipedidae, related to the loons, but having a rudimentary tail and lobate rather than webbed toes.

grebe

/ ɡriːb /

noun

1. any aquatic bird, such as Podiceps cristatus ( great crested grebe ), of the order Podicipediformes, similar to the divers but with lobate rather than webbed toes and a vestigial tail

Word History and Origins

Origin of grebe¹

First recorded in 1760–70, grebe is from the French word grèbe < ?

Word History and Origins

Origin of grebe¹

C18: from French grèbe, of unknown origin

Example Sentences

According to this revision, flamingos and their close relatives, grebes, belong to a group known as Mirandornithes, which branched off from other birds early on.

From Science Magazine

The Coast Guard said three live birds — a cormorant, a loon and a grebe — were found sullied with oil and were being treated.

From Seattle Times

Officials are caring for a common loon and a western grebe that were recovered with oil on their bodies.

From Los Angeles Times

Officials from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s office of oil spill prevention and response said Friday that, so far, one oiled bird, a grebe, had been recovered.

From Los Angeles Times

In the 1980s the New Zealand population of the Australasian crested grebe was at a precipitously low number of roughly 200 birds.

From Salon