hummingbird

[ huhm-ing-burd ]

noun

1. 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

/ ˈhʌmɪŋˌbɜːd /

noun

1. 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of hummingbird¹

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

Example Sentences

“The garden goes dormant in the summer but doesn’t die. Drought-tolerant plants are survivors. The sugar bush, toyon, manzanita, coffee berry, ceanothus and hummingbird sage hold their vivid green color year-round,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

I noticed the tiny hummingbird nest resting on a little branch above the yard.

From Los Angeles Times

He planted hummingbird sage after he read that it grows well in the shade of oak trees.

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s like putting a hummingbird,” she said, “inside a box.”

From New York Times

“The best thing we can do to help pollinators like bees, butterflies and hummingbirds is to create more habitat for them, preferably with native plants,” he says.

From Seattle Times