Wren

¹

[ ren ]

noun

, (sometimes lowercase)

1. a member of the Wrens.

Wren

²

[ ren ]

noun

1. Sir Christopher, 1632–1723, English architect.
2. Percival Christopher, 1885–1941, English novelist.

wren

³

[ ren ]

noun

1. any of numerous small, active songbirds of the family Troglodytidae, especially Troglodytes troglodytes, of the Northern Hemisphere, having dark-brown plumage barred with black and a short, upright tail. Compare house wren, marsh wren, rock wren, winter wren.
2. any of various similar, unrelated birds, especially any of several Old World warblers.

Wren

¹

/ rɛn /

noun

1. informal.
   history (in Britain and certain other nations) a member of the former Women's Royal Naval Service

Wren

²

/ rɛn /

noun

1. WrenSir Christopher16321723MEnglishARCHITECTURE: architect Sir Christopher. 1632–1723, English architect. He designed St Paul's Cathedral and over 50 other London churches after the Great Fire as well as many secular buildings

wren

³

/ rɛn /

noun

1. any small brown passerine songbird of the chiefly American family Troglodytidae, esp Troglodytes troglodytes ( wren in Britain, winter wren in the US and Canada). They have a slender bill and feed on insects
2. any of various similar birds of the families Muscicapidae (Australian warblers), Xenicidae (New Zealand wrens), etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of Wren¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Origin of Wren²

before 900; Middle English wrenn ( e ), Old English wrenna, obscurely akin to Old High German wrendilo, Old Norse rindill

Word History and Origins

Origin of Wren¹

C20: from the abbreviation WRNS

Origin of Wren²

Old English wrenna, werna; related to Old High German wrendo, rentilo, Old Norse rindill

Example Sentences

Outside is a bench dedicated to "Jennie Wren" – the family's pet name for her daughter – where Ms Moore often sits to reflect and allow memories from happier times to return.

From BBC

Adam Wren of Politico also wrote on Saturday about Vance's relentless bellyaching.

From Salon

Wrens "are very flighty," he says with a laugh.

From BBC

By the time of the Normandy landings, Lamb had been doing her part to defeat the Nazis for almost five years as member of the Women’s Royal Naval Service, known as the Wrens.

From Seattle Times

Just before the beginning of World War Two, she had intended to go to university in Oxford, but when war broke out she changed her plans and joined the Wrens - the Women's Royal Naval Service.

From BBC