Illustration of magpie
- magpie 1
1
: any of various birds (especially Pica pica) related to the jays but having a long graduated tail and black-and-white or brightly colored plumage
2
: a person who chatters noisily
3
: one who collects indiscriminately
1
: collected indiscriminately : miscellaneous
magpie compilations of unrelated tidbits—
Helen R. Cross
Helen R. Cross2
: given to indiscriminate collecting : acquisitive
what possible magpie instinct had impelled me to retain them—S. J. Perelman
S. J. PerelmanSynonyms
Examples of magpie in a Sentence
Noun
media magpies will no doubt seize upon the president's latest gaffe and blow it all out of proportion
Adjective
a pack rat whose cramped apartment is filled with a magpie collection of books, old newspapers, and tchotchkes
Recent Examples on the Web
Scott Travers, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
Backcountry skier rescued from avalanche near Berthoud Pass On Sunday the group counted and saw 26 species of birds, including a Golden Eagle, Bald eagles, magpies, Belted Kingfishers, Great Blue Herons, Northern Shrikes, Common Goldeneye and Gadwall ducks and an American Dipper.
—Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post, 3 Dec. 2024
Ebony-Renee Baker, refinery29.com, 4 Sep. 2024
The aloof downtown intellectual, named Luc by her Belgian parents, is a poetic essayist with a magpie mind and a talent for archive spelunking.
—Carl Swanson, Vulture, 9 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for magpie 
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Noun
Ravens, magpies and even common urban crows have demonstrated impressive feats of intelligence, from using traffic lights to crack nuts to remembering human faces and even holding grudges.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
Backcountry skier rescued from avalanche near Berthoud Pass On Sunday the group counted and saw 26 species of birds, including a Golden Eagle, Bald eagles, magpies, Belted Kingfishers, Great Blue Herons, Northern Shrikes, Common Goldeneye and Gadwall ducks and an American Dipper.
—Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post, 3 Dec. 2024
Adjective
Next Zara always nails its accessory selection, from stylish shoes to statement handbags and jewellery that will satisfy all your magpie cravings.
—Ebony-Renee Baker, refinery29.com, 4 Sep. 2024
The aloof downtown intellectual, named Luc by her Belgian parents, is a poetic essayist with a magpie mind and a talent for archive spelunking.
—Carl Swanson, Vulture, 9 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for magpie
Dictionary Entries Near magpie
Cite this Entry
“Magpie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magpie. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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