Adjacent Words

tree sparrow definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: Eurasian sparrow smaller than the house sparrow [syn: tree sparrow, Passer montanus]
2: finch common in winter in the northern U.S. [syn: tree sparrow, Spizella arborea]

Merriam Webster's

noun Date: circa 1770 1. a Eurasian sparrow (Passer montanus) that has a black spot on the ear coverts 2. a North American sparrow (Spizella arborea) that has a single dark spot on the breast and breeds in Alaska and northern Canada and winters in the United States

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Sparrow Spar"row, n. [OE. sparwe, AS. spearwa; akin to OHG. sparo, G. sperling, Icel. sp["o]rr, Dan. spurv, spurre, Sw. sparf, Goth. sparwa; -- originally, probably, the quiverer or flutterer, and akin to E. spurn. See Spurn, and cf. Spavin.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) One of many species of small singing birds of the family Fringillig[ae], having conical bills, and feeding chiefly on seeds. Many sparrows are called also finches, and buntings. The common sparrow, or house sparrow, of Europe (Passer domesticus) is noted for its familiarity, its voracity, its attachment to its young, and its fecundity. See House sparrow, under House. Note: The following American species are well known; the chipping sparrow, or chippy, the sage sparrow, the savanna sparrow, the song sparrow, the tree sparrow, and the white-throated sparrow (see Peabody bird). See these terms under Sage, Savanna, etc. 2. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several small singing birds somewhat resembling the true sparrows in form or habits, as the European hedge sparrow. See under Hedge. He that doth the ravens feed, Yea, providently caters for the sparrow, Be comfort to my age! --Shak. Field sparrow, Fox sparrow, etc. See under Field, Fox, etc. Sparrow bill, a small nail; a castiron shoe nail; a sparable. Sparrow hawk. (Zo["o]l.) (a) A small European hawk (Accipiter nisus) or any of the allied species. (b) A small American falcon (Falco sparverius). (c) The Australian collared sparrow hawk (Accipiter torquatus). Note: The name is applied to other small hawks, as the European kestrel and the New Zealand quail hawk. Sparrow owl (Zo["o]l.), a small owl (Glaucidium passerinum) found both in the Old World and the New. The name is also applied to other species of small owls. Sparrow spear (Zo["o]l.), the female of the reed bunting. [Prov. Eng.]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Tree Tree (tr[=e]), n. [OE. tree, tre, treo, AS. tre['o], tre['o]w, tree, wood; akin to OFries. tr[=e], OS. treo, trio, Icel. tr[=e], Dan. tr[ae], Sw. tr["a], tr["a]d, Goth. triu, Russ. drevo, W. derw an oak, Ir. darag, darog, Gr. dry^s a tree, oak, do`ry a beam, spear shaft, spear, Skr. dru tree, wood, d[=a]ru wood. [root]63, 241. Cf. Dryad, Germander, Tar, n., Trough.] 1. (Bot.) Any perennial woody plant of considerable size (usually over twenty feet high) and growing with a single trunk. Note: The kind of tree referred to, in any particular case, is often indicated by a modifying word; as forest tree, fruit tree, palm tree, apple tree, pear tree, etc. 2. Something constructed in the form of, or considered as resembling, a tree, consisting of a stem, or stock, and branches; as, a genealogical tree. 3. A piece of timber, or something commonly made of timber; -- used in composition, as in axletree, boottree, chesstree, crosstree, whiffletree, and the like. 4. A cross or gallows; as Tyburn tree. [Jesus] whom they slew and hanged on a tree. --Acts x. 39. 5. Wood; timber. [Obs.] --Chaucer. In a great house ben not only vessels of gold and of silver but also of tree and of earth. --Wyclif (2 Tim. ii. 20). 6. (Chem.) A mass of crystals, aggregated in arborescent forms, obtained by precipitation of a metal from solution. See Lead tree, under Lead. Tree bear (Zo["o]l.), the raccoon. [Local, U. S.] Tree beetle (Zo["o]l.) any one of numerous species of beetles which feed on the leaves of trees and shrubs, as the May beetles, the rose beetle, the rose chafer, and the goldsmith beetle. Tree bug (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of hemipterous insects which live upon, and suck the sap of, trees and shrubs. They belong to Arma, Pentatoma, Rhaphigaster, and allied genera. Tree cat (Zool.), the common paradoxure (Paradoxurus musang). Tree clover (Bot.), a tall kind of melilot (Melilotus alba). See Melilot. Tree crab (Zo["o]l.), the purse crab. See under Purse. Tree creeper (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of arboreal creepers belonging to Certhia, Climacteris, and allied genera. See Creeper, 3. Tree cricket (Zo["o]l.), a nearly white arboreal American cricket (Ecanthus niv[oe]us) which is noted for its loud stridulation; -- called also white cricket. Tree crow (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of Old World crows belonging to Crypsirhina and allied genera, intermediate between the true crows and the jays. The tail is long, and the bill is curved and without a tooth. Tree dove (Zo["o]l.) any one of several species of East Indian and Asiatic doves belonging to Macropygia and allied genera. They have long and broad tails, are chiefly arboreal in their habits, and feed mainly on fruit. Tree duck (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of ducks belonging to Dendrocygna and allied genera. These ducks have a long and slender neck and a long hind toe. They are arboreal in their habits, and are found in the tropical parts of America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Tree fern (Bot.), an arborescent fern having a straight trunk, sometimes twenty or twenty-five feet high, or even higher, and bearing a cluster of fronds at the top. Most of the existing species are tropical. Tree fish (Zo["o]l.), a California market fish (Sebastichthys serriceps). Tree frog. (Zo["o]l.) (a) Same as Tree toad. (b) Any one of numerous species of Old World frogs belonging to Chiromantis, Rhacophorus, and allied genera of the family Ranid[ae]. Their toes are furnished with suckers for adhesion. The flying frog (see under Flying) is an example. Tree goose (Zo["o]l.), the bernicle goose. Tree hopper (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of small leaping hemipterous insects which live chiefly on the branches and twigs of trees, and injure them by sucking the sap. Many of them are very odd in shape, the prothorax being often prolonged upward or forward in the form of a spine or crest. Tree jobber (Zo["o]l.), a woodpecker. [Obs.] Tree kangaroo. (Zo["o]l.) See Kangaroo. Tree lark (Zo["o]l.), the tree pipit. [Prov. Eng.] Tree lizard (Zo["o]l.), any one of a group of Old World arboreal lizards (Dendrosauria) comprising the chameleons. Tree lobster. (Zo["o]l.) Same as Tree crab, above. Tree louse (Zo["o]l.), any aphid; a plant louse. Tree moss. (Bot.) (a) Any moss or lichen growing on trees. (b) Any species of moss in the form of a miniature tree. Tree mouse (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of African mice of the subfamily Dendromyin[ae]. They have long claws and habitually live in trees. Tree nymph, a wood nymph. See Dryad. Tree of a saddle, a saddle frame. Tree of heaven (Bot.), an ornamental tree (Ailantus glandulosus) having long, handsome pinnate leaves, and greenish flowers of a disagreeable odor. Tree of life (Bot.), a tree of the genus Thuja; arbor vit[ae]. Tree onion (Bot.), a species of garlic (Allium proliferum) which produces bulbs in place of flowers, or among its flowers. Tree oyster (Zo["o]l.), a small American oyster (Ostrea folium) which adheres to the roots of the mangrove tree; -- called also raccoon oyster. Tree pie (Zo["o]l.), any species of Asiatic birds of the genus Dendrocitta. The tree pies are allied to the magpie. Tree pigeon (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of longwinged arboreal pigeons native of Asia, Africa, and Australia, and belonging to Megaloprepia, Carpophaga, and allied genera. Tree pipit. (Zo["o]l.) See under Pipit. Tree porcupine (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of Central and South American arboreal porcupines belonging to the genera Ch[ae]tomys and Sphingurus. They have an elongated and somewhat prehensile tail, only four toes on the hind feet, and a body covered with short spines mixed with bristles. One South American species (S. villosus) is called also couiy; another (S. prehensilis) is called also c[oe]ndou. Tree rat (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of large ratlike West Indian rodents belonging to the genera Capromys and Plagiodon. They are allied to the porcupines. Tree serpent (Zo["o]l.), a tree snake. Tree shrike (Zo["o]l.), a bush shrike. Tree snake (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of snakes of the genus Dendrophis. They live chiefly among the branches of trees, and are not venomous. Tree sorrel (Bot.), a kind of sorrel (Rumex Lunaria) which attains the stature of a small tree, and bears greenish flowers. It is found in the Canary Islands and Teneriffe. Tree sparrow (Zo["o]l.) any one of several species of small arboreal sparrows, especially the American tree sparrow (Spizella monticola), and the common European species (Passer montanus). Tree swallow (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of swallows of the genus Hylochelidon which lay their eggs in holes in dead trees. They inhabit Australia and adjacent regions. Called also martin in Australia. Tree swift (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of swifts of the genus Dendrochelidon which inhabit the East Indies and Southern Asia. Tree tiger (Zo["o]l.), a leopard. Tree toad (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of amphibians belonging to Hyla and allied genera of the family Hylid[ae]. They are related to the common frogs and toads, but have the tips of the toes expanded into suckers by means of which they cling to the bark and leaves of trees. Only one species (Hyla arborea) is found in Europe, but numerous species occur in America and Australia. The common tree toad of the Northern United States (H. versicolor) is noted for the facility with which it changes its colors. Called also tree frog. See also Piping frog, under Piping, and Cricket frog, under Cricket. Tree warbler (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of arboreal warblers belonging to Phylloscopus and allied genera. Tree wool (Bot.), a fine fiber obtained from the leaves of pine trees.