finch

[ finch ]

/ fɪntʃ /

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noun

any of numerous small passerine birds of the family Fringillidae, including the buntings, sparrows, crossbills, purple finches, and grosbeaks, most of which have a short, conical bill adapted for eating seeds.

any of various nonfringilline birds, especially the weaverbirds of the family Ploceidae and the tropical members of the subfamily Emberizinae.

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Origin of finch

before 900; Middle English; Old English finc; cognate with Dutch vink,German Fink; akin to Greek spíngos finch

Words nearby finch

financing, financing gap, finasteride, finback, finca, finch, Finchley, find, finder, finder's fee, finders, keepers

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

How to use finch in a sentence

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology simulated scenarios where female finches did not have much choice in males to understand if being picky affected the number of offspring the female finches ended up having.
When female finches fail to find mates, they dump their eggs and move on|Margo Milanowski|November 4, 2021|Popular-Science
One of the only proven preferences that female zebra finches have is for male birds that sing in the same dialect as them, meaning they have songs similar to those in the female finch’s home habitat.
When female finches fail to find mates, they dump their eggs and move on|Margo Milanowski|November 4, 2021|Popular-Science
The female finches have previously shown their preference for male birds with their dialect.
When female finches fail to find mates, they dump their eggs and move on|Margo Milanowski|November 4, 2021|Popular-Science
Our research examined previously collected data to determine if temperature also influenced changes in beak size of these finches.
New Research Reveals Animals Are Changing Their Body Shapes to Cope With Climate Change|Matthew Symonds|September 10, 2021|Singularity Hub

A volunteer chorus of finches and wrens emerges to perform at sunset with the settled-in ease of a house band.
Wolf Trap celebrates 50 years of arts in the wild — so what’s another rainstorm?|Michael Andor Brodeur|July 2, 2021|Washington Post
His observations of the many varieties of Finch birds in the Galapagos Island led him to solidify his theory of natural selection.
‘Gods of Suburbia’: Dina Goldstein’s Arresting Photo Series on Religion vs. Consumerism|Dina Goldstein|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It takes a certain amount of training to set up and use, Finch said.
The Missile That Likely Shot Down MH17|Chris Allbritton, Dave Majumdar|July 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But they will point you in the direction of a good finch if they see one.
‘The Central Park Effect’ Explores the Magical Power of Birding|Rebecca Dana|July 13, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Actor Peter Finch passed away from a heart attack in the lobby in 1977.
Beverly Hilton Deaths: Elderly Couple Ruled a Double Suicide|Christine Pelisek|July 1, 2012|DAILY BEAST
After Alice Finch Lee passed the bar exam in the summer of 1943, her father asked if she would like to join his firm.
Harper Lee’s Sister, Alice, Is 100, Still Practices Law, and Remembers Everything|Mary McDonagh Murphy|April 1, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Mister Finch, the grazing master, always lenient and forebearing, is seeking to recover past due payments.
David Lannarck, Midget|George S. Harney
Both were signed by both interested parties, then Davy paid Finch fifty dollars on his contract and the meeting adjourned.
David Lannarck, Midget|George S. Harney
Another very handsome bird in this region is the red-breasted rose-finch, which is found up to 18,000 feet.
Mount Everest the Reconnaissance, 1921|Charles Kenneth Howard-Bury
"I never saw such beautiful pink eyes before," remarked Piney the Purple Finch.
Bumper, The White Rabbit|George Ethelbert Walsh
Finch: some crusted old port for you, as a respectable family solicitor, eh?
You Never Can Tell|George Bernard Shaw

British Dictionary definitions for finch

finch

/ (fɪntʃ) /

noun

any songbird of the family Fringillidae, having a short stout bill for feeding on seeds and, in most species, a bright plumage in the male. Common examples are the goldfinch, bullfinch, chaffinch, siskin, and canary

any of various similar or related birds

Other words from finch

Related adjective: fringilline

Word Origin for finch

Old English finc; related to Old High German finko, Middle Dutch vinker, Greek spingos

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