hummingbird
noun
hum·ming·bird
| \ ˈhə-miŋ-ˌbərd
\
\
Definition of hummingbird
: any of a family (Trochilidae) of tiny brightly colored nonpasserine American birds related to the swifts that have a very slender bill and an extensible tongue for sipping nectar and that usually hover rather than perch when feeding
Illustration of hummingbird
Examples of hummingbird in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Readers continue to share their methods for keeping rats out of their gardens, as well as a suggestion for keeping bees away from the hummingbird feeder. — Joan Morris, The Mercury News, "More clever, non-lethal tips from Bay Area gardeners on keeping rats out," 30 Aug. 2019 Plant one or more containers of firebush in full sun on the patio to supplement your sugar water feeders and help attract more hummingbirds on the patio for observation. — Calvin Finch, ExpressNews.com, "It’s time to prep your roses, San Antonio," 16 Aug. 2019 Consider Flower Shape The flowers that attract hummingbirds are not the same as those that attract bees or beneficial wasps. — Rebecca Straus, Good Housekeeping, "Why You Should Always Plant Flowers in Your Vegetable Patch," 15 Aug. 2018 The deck, now heat- and slip-resistant white porcelain tile instead of red brick, steps down from the back door and stretches toward an arbutus tree whose flowers and fruit attract hummingbirds and swallowtails. — Emily Young, Los Angeles Times, "A tranquil garden getaway amid the hustle and bustle of Westwood," 3 Aug. 2019 The Costa’s hummingbird is more commonly seen in the winter and spring months. — Joan Morris, The Mercury News, "Identifying hummingbirds that visit Bay Area backyards," 26 July 2019 Some of the hummingbirds may still have young in the nest, but most have finished their nesting. — Calvin Finch, ExpressNews.com, "Purple martins are on the move," 5 July 2019 The hummingbird can hover and pivot in any direction. — Jonathon Keats, Discover Magazine, "The Origins of Flight, From Birds to Bugs to Planes," 21 June 2019 Last year, a man was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport for carrying nearly a hundred dead hummingbirds—often sold as love charms—in his suitcase. — Rachel Fobar, National Geographic, "Sea turtles, hummingbird charms, and other souvenirs not to buy on vacation," 2 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hummingbird.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for hummingbird
hummingbird
noun
English Language Learners Definition of hummingbird
: a very small, brightly colored American bird that has wings which beat very fast
See the full definition for hummingbird in the English Language Learners Dictionary
hummingbird
noun
hum·ming·bird
| \ ˈhə-miŋ-ˌbərd
\
\
Kids Definition of hummingbird
: a tiny brightly colored American bird whose wings make a humming sound in flight
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