eagle
Americannoun
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eagles
plural
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any of several large, soaring birds of prey belonging to the hawk family Accipitridae, noted for their size, strength, and powers of flight and vision: formerly widespread in North America, eagles are mostly confined to Alaska and a few isolated populations.
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a figure or representation of an eagle, much used as an emblem.
the Roman eagle.
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a standard, seal, or the like bearing such a figure.
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one of a pair of silver insignia in the shape of eagles with outstretched wings worn by a colonel in the U.S. Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps and by a captain in the U.S. Navy.
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Eagle, a gold coin of the United States, traded for investment, available in denominations of 5, 10, 25, and 50 dollars containing 1/10 to 1 troy ounce of gold, having on its reverse a picture of an eagle: first issued in 1986.
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a former gold coin of the United States, issued until 1933, equal to 10 dollars, showing an eagle on its reverse.
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Golf. a score of two below par for any single hole.
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Astronomy. Eagle, the constellation Aquila.
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Cards.
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a representation in green of an eagle, used on playing cards to designate a suit in the pack additional to the four standard suits.
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a card of a suit so designated.
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eagles, the suit itself.
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verb (used with object)
noun
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any of various birds of prey of the genera Aquila, Harpia, etc, having large broad wings and strong soaring flight: family Accipitridae (hawks, etc) See also golden eagle harpy eagle sea eagle
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a representation of an eagle used as an emblem, etc, esp representing power
the Roman eagle
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a standard, seal, etc, bearing the figure of an eagle
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golf a score of two strokes under par for a hole
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a former US gold coin worth ten dollars: withdrawn from circulation in 1934
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the shoulder insignia worn by a US full colonel or equivalent rank
verb
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of eagle
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English egle, from Anglo-French, Old French egle, aigle, from Latin aquila, noun use of feminine of aquilus “dark-colored”
Explanation
An eagle is a large bird that preys on smaller animals. Eagles, like hawks, are birds of prey, or raptors. Eagles are big, grand birds with powerful bodies and broad wings. Their impressive stature is reflected in the fact that they have often stood for power on the coats of arms, seals, and other emblems of various countries, including the United States, which names the bald eagle as its national bird. The Latin root of the word eagle is aquila, "black eagle" or "dark bird."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Clark double-bogeyed the opening hole but was superb thereafter, birdieing twice and then hitting an eagle on the eighth to go into the turn on two under.
From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026
In the same post, the nonprofit announced it was taking the unusual step of naming the new eagle “Kaydee.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
Chris Petruzzi said his eagle eyes also saved him.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
So wrote Victoria Novak of Georgia, referring to Jackie, the internet-famous bald eagle who died Monday after weeks of intensive care for a mysterious illness.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
This is the eagle from the tree the night of the rescue, from the branch the next day.
From "A Bird Will Soar" by Alison Green Myers
There’s a floating population of eagles all over North America, “and many of those birds, when they reach four years of age, are now in the business of prospecting,” Bloom said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
It’s believed they’ve since left the area, triggering Shadow’s “summer vacation,” when eagles visit the nest only occasionally, the nonprofit said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
“Fill the sky with more precious eagles to make their own nests. You are magnificent!”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
The genre includes nature livestreams, like the one broadcasting two celebrity eagles in Southern California.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
There were eagles up there people said and mountain lions maybe.
From "Homesick" by Jean Fritz
Lee birdied seven of the first 15 holes and eagled the par-five 17th before a closing bogey at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida.
From Barron's ● Nov. 20, 2025
After bogeys on the 12th and 13th, Griffin eagled the 15th and birdied the 16th to move to within a stroke of Scheffler.
From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2025
He found himself in a similar situation 12 months ago when he eagled the 18th to force a playoff and eventually beat Van Nuys’ Isiah Kim on the sixth extra hole.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2025
Arnaus played at Carnoustie, where he birdied five straight holes from No. 17 after starting at the 10th, and also eagled the par-5 14th hole.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 5, 2023
It lay there, spread eagled in eight directions, on the salt.
From Do Unto Others by Mark Clifton
After eagling the third, Pajaree’s momentum stalled on the front nine but she came home in 30 with six birdies, making five in a row from the ninth.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 31, 2021
After that went away, she parred the dangerous 12th before eagling No. 13 to start her torrid finish to top Arkansas’ Maria Fassi.
From Golf Digest ● Apr. 8, 2019
He had a bogey-free round, opening with a birdie on the par-5 first, eagling the par-5 seventh and adding birdies on the par-4 ninth and 16th.
From Washington Times ● Nov. 12, 2017
Englishman Sullivan made up for a double bogey at the fifth by eagling the 15th.
From Reuters ● Jan. 8, 2015
If not un-Englishing America in mind And heart forever, vain the shrieks Of Freedom, eagling back to dawn's first streaks.
From Freedom, Truth and Beauty by Edward Doyle
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
