robin

[ rob-in ]

noun
  1. any of several small Old World birds having a red or reddish breast, especially Erithacus rubecula, of Europe.

  2. a large American thrush, Turdus migratorius, having a chestnut-red breast and abdomen.

  1. any of several similar thrushes of the New World tropics, not necessarily having reddish underparts, as T. grayi(clay-colored robin ), of Mexico and Central America.

Origin of robin

1
First recorded in 1540–50; short for robin redbreast

Words Nearby robin

Other definitions for Robin (2 of 2)

Robin
[ rob-in ]

noun
  1. a male or female given name: derived from Robert.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use robin in a sentence

  • Mrs. Jolly robin had often wished—when she was trying to feed a rapidly-growing family—that she could hunt forp.

    The Tale of Grandfather Mole | Arthur Scott Bailey
  • And since he was glad enough to do that, Mrs. robin managed to feed her children all they needed.

    The Tale of Grandfather Mole | Arthur Scott Bailey
  • robin Hood stared at him for a moment with a puzzled expression, and then walked into his little shop, and Davy turned away.

    Davy and The Goblin | Charles E. Carryl
  • And then Jolly robin would feel ashamed that he had even thought of being so cruel to an infant bird, even if he was a Cowbird.

    The Tale of Grandfather Mole | Arthur Scott Bailey
  • Sometimes Grandfather Mole would speak to Mrs. robin, or her husband; for he could hear them talking.

    The Tale of Grandfather Mole | Arthur Scott Bailey

British Dictionary definitions for robin

robin

/ (ˈrɒbɪn) /


noun
  1. Also called: robin redbreast a small Old World songbird, Erithacus rubecula, related to the thrushes: family Muscicapidae . The male has a brown back, orange-red breast and face, and grey underparts

  2. a North American thrush, Turdus migratorius, similar to but larger than the Old World robin

  1. any of various similar birds having a reddish breast

Origin of robin

1
C16: arbitrary use of given name

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