phoebe

[ fee-bee ]

noun
  1. any of several small American flycatchers of the genus Sayornis, especially S. phoebe, of eastern North America.

Origin of phoebe

1
1690–1700, Americanism; imitative; spelling by influence of Phoebe

Words Nearby phoebe

Other definitions for Phoebe (2 of 2)

Phoebe
[ fee-bee ]

noun
  1. Classical Mythology. a Titan, daughter of Uranus and Gaia and mother of Leto, later identified with Artemis and with the Roman goddess Diana.

  2. Astronomy. one of the moons of Saturn.

  1. Literary. the moon personified.

  2. a female given name.

Origin of Phoebe

2
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English Phebe, Phebee, from Latin Phoebē, from Greek Phoíbē, feminine of phoîbos “shining, radiant, bright”; see Phoebus

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use phoebe in a sentence

  • “Oh yes; there was phoebe,” replied Benjamin, looking rather confused.

  • Edward had left the room, and having obtained the saddle-bags from phoebe, had gone up to his chamber.

  • He found Edward in the state described by Oswald, and wholly unconscious of his presence; the maid, phoebe, was by his bedside.

  • That Venus liked him, and phoebe liked him, added strength to the feeling.

    Jesse Cliffe | Mary Russell Mitford
  • The hare which he had himself given to phoebe was easier to tame than Jesse Cliffe.

    Jesse Cliffe | Mary Russell Mitford

British Dictionary definitions for phoebe (1 of 3)

phoebe

/ (ˈfiːbɪ) /


noun
  1. any of several greyish-brown North American flycatchers of the genus Sayornis, such as S. phoebe (eastern phoebe)

Origin of phoebe

1
C19: imitative of the bird's call

British Dictionary definitions for Phoebe (2 of 3)

Phoebe1

Phebe

/ (ˈfiːbɪ) /


noun
  1. classical myth a Titaness, who later became identified with Artemis (Diana) as goddess of the moon

  2. poetic a personification of the moon

British Dictionary definitions for Phoebe (3 of 3)

Phoebe2

/ (ˈfiːbɪ) /


noun
  1. the outermost satellite of the planet Saturn. It has retrograde motion and a dark surface

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012