finch

noun

ˈfinch 

: any of numerous passerine songbirds (families Fringillidae, Estrildidae, Emberizidae, and Cardinalidae) having a short stout usually conical bill adapted for crushing seeds

Examples of finch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Use a tube feeder with black oil sunflower, safflower seed, or peanuts for finches and chickadees. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2024

Drought conditions tend to select for thicker-beaked finches. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 10 Oct. 2024

First there were bluebirds, golden tanagers, and colorful finches called euphonias. —Benji Jones, Vox, 4 Dec. 2024

Warren said filling long feeder tubes with Nyjer seed can provide the finches with a nice spot to snack. —Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fynche, fynch, going back to Old English fink, going back to West Germanic *finki-, *finkja-, perhaps going back to an Indo-European echoic noun base *ping-, whence also Greek pínga "nestling" and, with mobile s, Greek spíngon "siskin," Old Norse spiki "tit," Swedish spink "finch" (in regional gulspink "yellowhammer" or "great tit"), dialectal English spink "finch" (perhaps borrowed from Scandinavian)

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing finch

• house finch
• purple finch
• zebra finch

Kids Definition

finch

noun

ˈfinch 

: any of numerous songbirds (as the sparrows, grosbeaks, crossbills, goldfinches, and buntings) that have a short stout bill adapted for crushing seeds