wren

¹ American  

[ren] / rɛn /

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.

2. any of various similar, unrelated birds, especially any of several Old World warblers.

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Wren ² American  

[ren] / rɛn /

noun

(sometimes lowercase)

1. a member of the Wrens.

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Wren ³ American  

[ren] / rɛn /

noun

1. Sir Christopher, 1632–1723, English architect.

2. Percival Christopher, 1885–1941, English novelist.

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wren ¹ British  

/ 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

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Wren ² British  

/ rɛn /

noun

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

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Wren ³ British  

/ rɛn /

noun

1. 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

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Etymology

Origin of wren¹

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

Origin of Wren²

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

‘I don’t think it’s anywhere close. Otherwise that wren wouldn’t be calling.’

From Literature

A brown wren worked on a nest in the roof’s thatching.

From Literature

That wren never moved or made a sound.

From Literature

It is one of the UK's most-loved garden birds and along with species like wrens can still be heard singing, external long after some other species go quiet.

From BBC

The author’s first drop-in—he prefers the term “co-presence”—is a wren, who is given the run of the place and his own chapter.

From The Wall Street Journal