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

Illustration of hummingbird

Examples of hummingbird in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Participants can enjoy a flight of three tasters of wine while creating a hummingbird feeder from a wine bottle. —Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024

Instead of one large photo of a hummingbird, the photo was cropped into many pieces, containing only parts of the line drawing. —Carly Miller, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2024

Many of the specimens, like the one in Schreiber’s palm, were rufous hummingbirds. —Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 22 Sep. 2024

Weighing as little as 2 grams, hummingbirds don't appear to be formidable creatures. —William Ramsey, USA TODAY, 16 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1637, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing hummingbird

• ruby-throated hummingbird

Kids Definition

hummingbird

noun

hum·​ming·​bird ˈhəm-iŋ-ˌbərd 

: any of numerous tiny brightly colored American birds related to the swifts and having narrow swiftly beating wings, a slender bill, and a long tongue for sipping nectar