Illustration of hummingbird
hummingbird
noun
hum·ming·bird ˈhə-miŋ-ˌbərd 
: 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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web If one hummingbird is at the feeder and a second comes along, a fight breaks out. 
John Kelly, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2022 That’s to destinations such as Costa Rica, where dozens of different hummingbird species buzz and shimmer in the air. John Kelly, Washington Post, 11 July 2022 Home gardens may see nesting mourning dove, a covey of baby quail, or the miracle of tiny hummingbird chicks hatching from miniature eggs in a nest not much bigger than a large thimble. Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Aug. 2022 But Flanagan had a larger vision and wanted to create a butterfly environment similar to the free-flight hummingbird enclosure at the San Diego Zoo. San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2022 There’s also a quaint stream, a hummingbird and butterfly garden, plenty of oak woodland picnic areas and cherry blossoms in the spring. Matt Pawlik, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2022 Audubon has a Native Plants Database where people can search by Zip code to determine which hummingbird-friendly plants will grow in their area and where to buy them. Nevin Martell, Washington Post, 20 July 2022 Doris Anahí is sitting in a café in Mexico City, talking to Rolling Stone on the phone, when a tiny hummingbird lands directly in front of her and flutters its wings. Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2022 Extra hummingbird food can be stored in the fridge for up to two weeks, according to BlessThisMess.com. Caitlin Mclean, USA TODAY, 8 July 2022 See More
John Kelly, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2022 That’s to destinations such as Costa Rica, where dozens of different hummingbird species buzz and shimmer in the air. John Kelly, Washington Post, 11 July 2022 Home gardens may see nesting mourning dove, a covey of baby quail, or the miracle of tiny hummingbird chicks hatching from miniature eggs in a nest not much bigger than a large thimble. Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Aug. 2022 But Flanagan had a larger vision and wanted to create a butterfly environment similar to the free-flight hummingbird enclosure at the San Diego Zoo. San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2022 There’s also a quaint stream, a hummingbird and butterfly garden, plenty of oak woodland picnic areas and cherry blossoms in the spring. Matt Pawlik, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2022 Audubon has a Native Plants Database where people can search by Zip code to determine which hummingbird-friendly plants will grow in their area and where to buy them. Nevin Martell, Washington Post, 20 July 2022 Doris Anahí is sitting in a café in Mexico City, talking to Rolling Stone on the phone, when a tiny hummingbird lands directly in front of her and flutters its wings. Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2022 Extra hummingbird food can be stored in the fridge for up to two weeks, according to BlessThisMess.com. Caitlin Mclean, USA TODAY, 8 July 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1637, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing hummingbird
Kids Definition
hummingbird
noun
hum·ming·bird ˈhə-miŋ-ˌbərd
: a tiny brightly colored American bird whose wings make a humming sound in flight