perch
1[ purch ]
/ pɜrtʃ /
Save This Word!
noun
verb (used without object)
to alight or rest upon a perch.
to settle or rest in some elevated position, as if on a perch.
verb (used with object)
to set or place on or as if on a perch.
to inspect (cloth) for defects and blemishes after it has been taken from the loom and placed upon a perch.
QUIZ
ARE YOU A TRUE BLUE CHAMPION OF THESE "BLUE" SYNONYMS?
We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms.
Question 1 of 8
Which of the following words describes “sky blue”?
Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing
Origin of perch
11250–1300; Middle English perche<Old French <Latin pertica pole, staff, measuring rod
OTHER WORDS FROM perch
perch·a·ble, adjectiveun·perched, adjectiveOther definitions for perch (2 of 2)
perch2
[ purch ]
/ pɜrtʃ /
noun, plural (especially collectively) perch, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) perch·es.
any spiny-finned, freshwater food fish of the genus Perca, as P. flavescens(yellow perch ), of the U.S., or P. fluviatilis, of Europe.
any of various other related, spiny-finned fishes.
any of several embioticid fishes, as Hysterocarpus traski(tule perch ) of California.
Origin of perch
21350–1400; Middle English perche<Middle French <Latin perca<Greek pérkē
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
How to use perch in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for perch (1 of 2)
perch1
/ (pɜːtʃ) /
noun
verb
(usually foll by on) to alight, rest, or cause to rest on or as if on a perchthe bird perched on the branch; the cap was perched on his head
(tr) to inspect (cloth) on a perch
Derived forms of perch
percher, nounWord Origin for perch
C13 perche stake, from Old French, from Latin pertica long staff
British Dictionary definitions for perch (2 of 2)
perch2
/ (pɜːtʃ) /
noun plural perch or perches
any freshwater spiny-finned teleost fish of the family Percidae, esp those of the genus Perca, such as P. fluviatilis of Europe and P. flavescens (yellow perch) of North America: valued as food and game fishes
any of various similar or related fishes
Other words from perch
Related adjective: percoidWord Origin for perch
C13: from Old French perche, from Latin perca, from Greek perkē; compare Greek perkos spotted
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