owl
[ oul ]
/ aʊl /
noun
any of numerous, chiefly nocturnal birds of prey, of the order Strigiformes, having a broad head with large, forward-directed eyes that are usually surrounded by disks of modified feathers: many populations are diminishing owing to loss of habitat.
one of a breed of domestic pigeons having an owllike appearance.
a person of owllike solemnity or appearance.
adjective
operating late at night or all night: an owl train.
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Origin of owl
before 900; Middle English oule,Old English ūle; cognate with Low German ūle,Dutch uil; akin to German Eule,Old Norse ugla
OTHER WORDS FROM owl
owllike, adjectiveWords nearby owl
Owen Stanley Range, ower, Owerri, OWI, owing, owl, owl butterfly, owlet, owlet moth, owlet nightjar, owlish
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for owl
British Dictionary definitions for owl
owl
/ (aʊl) /
noun
any nocturnal bird of prey of the order Strigiformes, having large front-facing eyes, a small hooked bill, soft feathers, and a short neck
any of various breeds of owl-like fancy domestic pigeon (esp the African owl, Chinese owl, and English owl)
a person who looks or behaves like an owl, esp in having a solemn manner
Derived forms of owl
owl-like, adjectiveWord Origin for owl
Old English ūle; related to Dutch uil, Old High German ūwila, Old Norse ugla
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Idioms and Phrases with owl
owl
see night owl.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.