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goldfinch

American  
[gohld-finch] / ˈgoʊldˌfɪntʃ /

noun

  1. a European finch, Carduelis carduelis, having a crimson face and wings marked with yellow.

  2. any of certain related American finches of the genus Carduelis, as C. tristis, the male of which has yellow body plumage in the summer.


goldfinch British  
/ ˈɡəʊldˌfɪntʃ /

noun

  1. a common European finch, Carduelis carduelis, the adult of which has a red-and-white face and yellow-and-black wings

  2. any of several North American finches of the genus Spinus, esp the yellow-and-black species S. tristis

"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

Etymology

Origin of goldfinch

before 1000; Middle English; Old English goldfinc. See gold, finch

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.

Then other birds, like the northern cardinal and the goldfinch.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 7, 2023

A male and a female goldfinch, white-breasted nuthatches, slate-colored juncos, chickadees and tufted titmice were just some we could name.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2023

You want to have the whole beautiful arrangement, neat as a goldfinch nest, set down in front of you by one of the Musket Room’s servers, who will point out the dish’s highlights.

From New York Times • Mar. 8, 2022

Birds are ancient symbols for the soul, and for Christianity the goldfinch had come to signal resurrection.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 20, 2021

I know their real names now: goldfinch, chickadee.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz