sparrow

[ spar-oh ]

noun

1. any of numerous American finches of the family Emberizinae. Compare chipping sparrow, song sparrow.
2. any member of the Old World genus Passer, formerly thought to be closely related to the weaverbirds but now placed in their own family, Passeridae.
3. British. the house sparrow.
4. any of several other unrelated small birds. Compare Java sparrow, hedge sparrow.
5. Sparrow, Military. a 12-foot (4-meter), all-weather, radar-guided U.S. air-to-air missile with an 88-pound (40-kilogram) high-explosive warhead.

sparrow

/ ˈspærəʊ /

noun

1. any weaverbird of the genus Passer and related genera, esp the house sparrow, having a brown or grey plumage and feeding on seeds or insects
2. any of various North American finches, such as the chipping sparrow ( Spizella passerina ), that have a dullish streaked plumage

Derived Forms

• ˈsparrow-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• sparrow·less adjective
• sparrow·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sparrow¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English sparowe, Old English spearwa; cognate with Gothic sparwa, Old Norse spǫrr

Word History and Origins

Origin of sparrow¹

Old English spearwa; related to Old Norse spörr, Old High German sparo

Example Sentences

Timothy Sharp, manager of Sparrow Coffee House in Cardiff, makes his own homemade syrup, adding spices like cloves, cardamom and star anise to the core PSL ingredients of ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg.

From BBC

Lorraine Ashbourne returns to Sherwood as Daphne Sparrow, the matriarch of a crime family who had been an undercover police officer during the miners' strike.

From BBC

Fish and Wildlife Service celebrated delisting the San Clemente Bell’s sparrow and four plant species — the largest group delisting from population recovery in the 50-year history of the Endangered Species Act.

From Los Angeles Times

He had the nickname "Sparrow", and was also known as "Champion Pigeon Man of Pinxton", due to his love of pigeon racing.

From BBC

He had the nickname "Sparrow", and was also known as "Champion Pigeon Man of Pinxton", due to his love of pigeon racing.

From BBC