birdlime

[ burd-lahym ]

See synonyms for birdlime on Thesaurus.com

noun

a sticky material prepared from holly, mistletoe, or other plants, and smeared on twigs to catch small birds that light on it.

verb (used with object),bird·limed, bird·lim·ing.

to smear with birdlime.
to catch or capture, as with birdlime: to be birdlimed by flattery.

Origin of birdlime

First recorded in 1400–50, birdlime is from the late Middle English word brydelyme.See bird, lime²

Words Nearby birdlime

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

How to use birdlime in a sentence

In effect both father and son became fast to the birdlime figure, when they were stung to death by ten thousand bees.
Spanish Life in Town and Country | L. Higgin and Eugne E. Street
Yet this is that wherewith the world is taken, and runs mad to gaze on—clothes and titles, the birdlime of fools.
Discoveries Made Upon Men and Matter | Ben Jonson
Such was Biddy Tibs; and, though possessed of no mean wealth, her avarice clung like birdlime to her.
Bentley's Miscellany, Volume II | Various
The former consists of shavings from old documents, and the latter of birdlime for new converts.
Abridgement of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856 (4 of 16 vol.) | Various
It is the birdlime with which the devil catches many a female and male soul.
Gatherings From Spain | Richard Ford

British Dictionary definitions for birdlime

birdlime

/ (ˈbɜːdˌlaɪm) /

noun

a sticky substance, prepared from holly, mistletoe, or other plants, smeared on twigs to catch small birds

verb

(tr) to smear (twigs) with birdlime to catch (small birds)

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

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