lark

¹ American  

[lahrk] / lɑrk /

noun

1. any of numerous, chiefly Old World oscine birds, of the family Alaudidae, characterized by an unusually long, straight hind claw, especially the skylark, Alauda arvensis.

2. any of various similar birds of other families, as the meadowlark and titlark.

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lark ² American  

[lahrk] / lɑrk /

noun

1. a merry, carefree adventure; frolic; escapade.

2. innocent or good-natured mischief; a prank.

3. something extremely easy to accomplish, succeed in, or to obtain.

   That exam was a lark.

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verb (used without object)

1. to have fun; frolic; romp.

2. to behave mischievously; play pranks.

3. Fox Hunting. (of a rider) to take jumps unnecessarily.

   He tired his horse by larking on the way home.

lark ¹ British  

/ lɑːk /

noun

1. a carefree adventure or frolic

2. a harmless piece of mischief

3. how amusing!

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verb

1. (often foll by about) to have a good time by frolicking

2. to play a prank

lark ² British  

/ lɑːk /

noun

1. any brown songbird of the predominantly Old World family Alaudidae, esp the skylark: noted for their singing

2. short for titlark meadowlark

3. (often capital) any of various slender but powerful fancy pigeons, such as the Coburg Lark

4. up early in the morning

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lark Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing lark

• happy as the day is long (as a lark)

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Other Word Forms

• larker noun
• larkiness noun
• larkingly adverb
• larkish adjective
• larkishly adverb
• larkishness noun
• larksome adjective
• larky adjective

Etymology

Origin of lark¹

before 900; Middle English larke, Old English lāwerce; cognate with German Lerche, Dutch leeuwerik, Old Norse lǣvirki

Origin of lark²

First recorded in 1805–15; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

"Instead of being a morning lark you're going to become more of a night owl," Casement explained.

From Science Daily

Stoppard announced himself with “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead,” an absurdist lark that views “Hamlet” from the keyhole perspective of two courtiers jockeying for position in the new regime.

From Los Angeles Times

Happy as a lark, you will take the oven-warm biscuits up to your private tree house and, hungry as a horse, devour them all yourself.

From Literature

There was a pretty songbird labeled a snow lark and a gray-furred rodent called an alpine marmot.

From Literature

“Most observers,” Mr. Witt writes, “thought the whole situation a ridiculous lark.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• prank