perch

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈpərch 

1

: a bar or peg on which something is hung

2

a

: a roost for a bird

b

: a resting place or vantage point : seat

c

: a prominent position

his new perch as president

3

chiefly British : rod sense 2

perch

2 of 3

verb

perched; perching; perches

intransitive verb

: to alight, settle, or rest on a perch, a height, or a precarious spot

transitive verb

: to place on a perch, a height, or a precarious spot

perch

3 of 3

noun (2)

plural perch or perches

1

a

: a small European freshwater bony fish (Perca fluviatilis of the family Percidae, the perch family)

b

: yellow perch

2

: any of numerous bony fishes (as of the families Percidae, Centrarchidae, and Serranidae)

Illustration of perch

• ³perch 1a

Synonyms

Verb

• alight
• land
• light
• roost
• settle
• touch down

Examples of perch in a Sentence

Verb

pigeons perching on the roof

perched the baby in a basket

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Her mother has been juggling three jobs, including a remote marketing job that requires her to begin working at 2 a.m., perched on the bathroom toilet while her family sleeps. —Luis Ferré-Sadurní, New York Times, 23 Dec. 2024

In Tucson, that could include the water now perched under an old landfill, waiting to be cleaned. —Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 23 Dec. 2024

Noun

While the Reds are still sitting atop their perch, there has been a small momentum shift in both camps that should keep things interesting this weekend. —Oli Gamp, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024

Location The Eden Rock - St Barths benefits both from its enviable perch on picture-perfect Plage St. Jeans (the soft sand and turquoise water look like a postcard) and its central location. —Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 22 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English perche, from Anglo-French, from Latin pertica pole

Noun (2)

Middle English perche, from Anglo-French, from Latin perca, from Greek perkē; akin to Old High German faro colored, Latin porcus, a spiny fish

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing perch

• Nile perch
• ocean perch
• perch oneself
• pike perch
• silver perch
• speckled perch
• trout-perch
• white perch
• yellow perch

Kids Definition

perch

1 of 3 noun

ˈpərch 

1

: a roost for a bird

2

: a raised seat or position

perch

2 of 3 verb

1

: to place on a perch

2

: to land, settle, or rest on or as if on a perch

perch

3 of 3 noun

plural perch or perches

1

: a common North American freshwater fish that is yellowish with dark green vertical stripes and is a popular food and sport fish

called also yellow perch

2

: any of various fishes related to or resembling the perch

Etymology

Noun

Middle English perche "a peg on which something is hung," from early French perche (same meaning), from Latin pertica "pole"

Noun

Middle English perche "a kind of fish," from early French perche (same meaning), from Latin perca (same meaning), from Greek perkē "perch (fish)"