canary
any of several Old World finches of the genus Serinus, especially S. canaria(common canary ), native to the Canary Islands and often kept as a pet, in the wild being greenish with brown streaks above and yellow below and in domesticated varieties usually bright yellow or pale yellow.
Also called canary yellow . a light, clear yellow color: They sell a shimmer eyeshadow in canary that would look nice with your coloring.
Slang. informer (def. 1).
Slang. a female singer, especially with a dance band.
a sweet white wine of the Canary Islands, resembling sherry.
Also called ca·nar·y dia·mond [kuh-nair-ee dahy-muhnd, dahy-uh-] /kəˈnɛər i ˈdaɪ mənd, ˈdaɪ ə-/ . a yellow diamond.
having a light, clear yellow color: That canary sweater would pair well with your golden skirt.
Idioms about canary
canary in the coal mine, someone or something that serves as an early warning sign of danger or trouble to come: These fish are the canaries in the coal mine, so when they die off in unusually high numbers, that's an indicator of the river's health.
the cat that ate / swallowed / got the canary. cat (def. 28).
Origin of canary
1Words Nearby canary
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use canary in a sentence
“This is not a judgment of guilt, nor is it a suspension of any other canonical penalty,” canary wrote.
Chicago Priests Raped and Pillaged for 50 Years | Barbie Latza Nadeau | November 7, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe aforementioned stories may very well be legitimate, but let's consider them a sort of canary in the coal mine.
Brace Yourself: October Election Surprises Surely on the Way | Matt Lewis | October 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAs has often been the case with issues of LGBT equality, this vote is the canary in the coalmine.
At the United Nations, It’s Human Rights, Putin-Style | Jay Michaelson | June 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIt's like she is in Fashion Jail and only allowed to wear frumpy dated Sloane florals and old lady canary yellow.
Since retail can be the canary in the coal mine for the broader economy, there's real reason to be anxious.
On the 7th of August we neared the canary Isles, but unfortunately, on account of the thick fog, we could not see them.
A Woman's Journey Round the World | Ida PfeifferTheir present canary was quite the most delightful little creature they had ever possessed.
Skipper Worse | Alexander Lange KiellandThe canary Islands boast of two bishoprics, both of which are now vacant, yet have not one newspaper.
Journal of a Voyage to Brazil | Maria GrahamNeither the pine-apple nor water-melon grow in Teneriffe, but abundance of the latter are brought from Grand canary.
Journal of a Voyage to Brazil | Maria GrahamShe is like a canary bird; when others begin to speak, she hurries in her remarks, in an accompaniment.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness | Florence Hartley
British Dictionary definitions for canary
/ (kəˈnɛərɪ) /
a small finch, Serinus canaria, of the Canary Islands and Azores: a popular cagebird noted for its singing. Wild canaries are streaked yellow and brown, but most domestic breeds are pure yellow
See canary yellow
Australian history a convict
archaic a sweet wine from the Canary Islands similar to Madeira
Origin of canary
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with canary
see look like the cat that ate the canary.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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