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:
The nearly 5-year-old eagle has perched and sung with Shadow, who first paired up with Jackie in 2018.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026
A self-described die-hard eagle fan, she said she knew the livestream was popular but “didn’t know how popular it was amongst my own community.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026
Xi received the full pageantry of a state visit: a 21-gun salute, a flyover of U.S. jet fighters and a stealth bomber and a gift in the form of a large bald eagle statue.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026
US President Donald Trump has presented Chinese President Xi Jinping with a sculpture of a bald eagle, a bird native to North America and his country's national symbol, during a lavish state dinner in Washington.
From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026
He tells Ray that he hasn’t seen a bald eagle the entire week that Ray’s been resting here at home and that, no, he hasn’t seen Braviary.
From "A Bird Will Soar" by Alison Green Myers
In mid-July, Jackie was found weak, disheveled and unable to fly on the north shore of the lake after a scuffle with two younger eagles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026
Plans for the arch from earlier this year feature a golden, winged Lady Liberty on the top, flanked by two gold eagles.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
As well as rollercoasters, it is home to the largest sanctuary for non-releasable bald eagles in the world.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
Bloom said young eagles, like KD1, are more prone to grave mistakes when it comes to rearing young, from egg to eaglet.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
She keeps a count of bald eagles, and then loses track because there are so many.
From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti
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
McIlroy then eagled the 10th to move to five under.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 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
Todd eagled the par-5 second, holing a 25-footer, and birdied Nos.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 8, 2023
Up the lanes he sent his bursting spirits flying in shrill whistlings and gay hummings; slashed stones with his stick; struck across the fields and took gates and stiles in great spread- eagled vaults.
From Once Aboard the Lugger by A. S. M. (Arthur Stuart-Menteth) Hutchinson
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
Woods needed to do what Phil Mickelson did Saturday, eagling No. 13 and birdieing No. 15 to catapult up the leader board.
From New York Times ● Apr. 8, 2012
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.
