bird's-eye
Americanadjective
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seen from above, as by a bird in flight; panoramic.
a bird's-eye view of the city.
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omitting many details; broad; superficial; general.
a bird's-eye view of ancient history.
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having spots or markings resembling the eyes of a bird.
bird's-eye tweed.
noun
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any of various plants having small, round, bright-colored flowers, as a primrose, Primula farinosa, or a speedwell, Veronica chamaedrys.
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Textiles.
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a woven, allover pattern on fabrics, characterized chiefly by small diamond shapes resembling the eyes of a bird.
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a fabric having this pattern, especially a cotton used for diapers or a linen used for toweling.
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adjective
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seen or photographed from high above
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summarizing the main points of a topic; summary (esp in the phrase bird's-eye view )
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having markings resembling birds' eyes
noun
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a Eurasian primrose, Primula farinosa , having clusters of purplish flowers with yellow centres
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the usual US name for germander speedwell
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any of several other plants having flowers of two contrasting colours
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a pattern in linen and cotton fabrics, made up of small diamond shapes with a dot in the centre of each
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a linen or cotton fabric with such a pattern
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of bird's-eye
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.
With his bird's-eye view of the contest, Vuletic says the contest will weather this controversy, as it has done many times before.
From BBC • May 9, 2026
A glowing Ferris wheel churned nearby, offering a bird’s-eye view of the main stage.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026
For that reason, I suggest you enlist independent third-party help: a fee-only fiduciary who can give you a bird’s-eye view of your finances and who has no incentive to sell you another policy.
From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026
You have a bird’s-eye view in some scenes.
From Salon • Jan. 9, 2025
As if she were seeing herself from some strange bird’s-eye view high above, Penelope watched herself give Edward Ashton the cannibal book.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
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.
