bird of paradise

¹

noun

1. any of several passerine birds of the family Paradisaeidae, of New Guinea and adjacent islands, the males of which have ornate, colorful plumage.

bird-of-paradise

²

[ burd-uhv-par-uh-dahys, -dahyz ]

noun

, plural birds-of-paradise.

1. Also called bird-of-paradise flower. any of several plants of the genus Strelitzia, native to southern Africa, especially S. reginae, having a large, showy orange and blue inflorescence.
2. a small tree or shrub, Caesalpinia ( Poinciana ) gilliesii, native to South America, having featherlike leaves and showy yellow flowers with red stamens.

Bird of Paradise

³

noun

, Astronomy.

1. the constellation Apus.

bird of paradise

noun

1. any songbird of the family Paradisaeidae of New Guinea and neighbouring regions, the males of which have brilliantly coloured ornate plumage
2. bird-of-paradise flower
   any of various banana-like plants of the genus Strelitzia , esp S. reginae , that are native to tropical southern Africa and South America and have purple bracts and large orange or yellow flowers resembling birds' heads: family Strelitziaceae

Word History and Origins

Origin of bird of paradise¹

First recorded in 1600–10

Origin of bird of paradise²

First recorded in 1880–85

Origin of bird of paradise³

First recorded in 1650–60

Example Sentences

This was how the bird of paradise first made itself known to me.

From Los Angeles Times

Today, the bird of paradise is one of the predominant flora across the city.

From Los Angeles Times

Originating in the KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa, on the Eastern Cape, the bird of paradise found its way to the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino sometime before 1932, when the institution’s record-keeping began, explains Kathy Musial, senior curator of living collections.

From Los Angeles Times

In 1952, as L.A. celebrated it 171st year, the bird of paradise was designated the official city flower by Mayor Fletcher Bowron, a Republican with a nasty appreciation for internment camps who would lose a bid for reelection that same year.

From Los Angeles Times

Often, in spite of its spoiled political terrain, L.A., like the bird of paradise, found a way to sprout.

From Los Angeles Times