owl
noun
\ ˈau̇(-ə)l
\
\
Definition of owl
: any of an order (Strigiformes) of chiefly nocturnal birds of prey with a large head and eyes, short hooked bill, strong talons, and soft fluffy often brown-mottled plumage
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Examples of owl in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The bird got an examination and treatment from the Howell Nature Center, according to a Facebook post from the Canton Public Safety Department that shows bandages wrapped around the owl's midsection. — Emma Keith, Detroit Free Press, "Canton police untangle trapped owl from soccer net," 2 Aug. 2019 According to the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network, the juvenile owl was found on Monday at the oil pits in Dulah, a city just west of Ventura. — Fox News, "Great horned owl discovered completely covered in oil after getting into pit," 23 July 2019 Even the DuoLingo owl is trying to have a hot girl summer, and she (or he?) is a stuffed animal! — Rebecca Jennings, Vox, "2019’s most fun meme, explained.," 12 July 2019 The owls then begin eating the Ashy storm petrel, a small gray seabird that is listed as a species of special concern in California. — Peter Fimrite, SFChronicle.com, "Coastal Commission to consider poisoning mice to restore balance on Farallon Islands," 10 July 2019 The owl dangled motionless in midair until rescuers were able to reach it and clip the lines. — Michelle Lou, CNN, "Abandoned fishing line snared a great horned owl in Colorado, but humans worked together to free it," 5 July 2019 The mammoth owls perched atop the Harold Washington Library looked up at the courthouse. — Morgan Greene, chicagotribune.com, "'Eminently fair’ Rebecca Pallmeyer takes the reins as Chicago federal court’s 1st female chief judge," 4 July 2019 The owls in the Superstition Wilderness lived in the Reavis Ranch area where nearby, firefighters also saved the ancient Mother Tree, an alligator juniper estimated to be between 600 and 1,000 years old. — Priscilla Totiyapungprasert, azcentral, "Rabbits, bears and bobcats: How has the Woodbury Fire affected Arizona wildlife habitat?," 26 June 2019 There was the giant moa, which could reach a height of seven feet, the Haast’s eagle, an enormous predator that hunted the moa, the laughing owl, known for its piercing cries. — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "It Will Take New Zealand 50 Million Years to Recover Its Lost Bird Biodiversity," 6 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'owl.' 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 owl
owl
noun
English Language Learners Definition of owl
: a bird that usually hunts at night and that has a large head and eyes, a powerful hooked beak, and strong claws
See the full definition for owl in the English Language Learners Dictionary
owl
noun
\ ˈau̇l
\
\
Kids Definition of owl
: a large bird with big head and eyes, hooked bill, and strong claws that is active at night and feeds on small animals
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