shrike

[ shrahyk ]

/ ʃraɪk /

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noun

any of numerous predaceous oscine birds of the family Laniidae, having a strong, hooked, and toothed bill, feeding on insects and sometimes on small birds and other animals: the members of certain species impale their prey on thorns or suspend it from the branches of trees to tear it apart more easily, and are said to kill more than is necessary for them to eat.

any of several other birds having similar bills, as the vanga shrikes.

Shrike, Military. a 10-foot (3-meter), 400-pound (180-kilogram) U.S. air-to-ground missile designed to destroy missile batteries by homing in on their radar emissions.

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In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

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Origin of shrike

First recorded in 1535–45; perhaps continuing Old English scrīc “thrush”; akin to Old Norse skrīkja “to twitter”; see shriek

Words nearby shrike

shriek, shrieval, shrievalty, shrieve, shrift, shrike, shrill, shrimp, shrimper, shrimpfish, shrimp plant

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

How to use shrike in a sentence

It is no argument against94 this theory, that the shrike sometimes leaves these stores without returning to them.
Popular Adventure Tales|Mayne Reid
The cuckoo-shrike (Grauculus macii) is not nearly related to the cuckoo, nor has it the parasitic habits of the latter.
A Bird Calendar for Northern India|Douglas Dewar
Both the grey shrike and the wood-shrike begin nesting operations in February.
A Bird Calendar for Northern India|Douglas Dewar
In October the pied chat and the wood-shrike frequently make sweet melody.
A Bird Calendar for Northern India|Douglas Dewar

The great northern shrike is a frequent winter visitor, but by ill chance I have not been up when he has called at the roof.
Roof and Meadow|Dallas Lore Sharp

British Dictionary definitions for shrike

shrike

/ (ʃraɪk) /

noun

Also called: butcherbird any songbird of the chiefly Old World family Laniidae, having a heavy hooked bill and feeding on smaller animals which they sometimes impale on thorns, barbed wire, etcSee also bush shrike (def. 1)

any of various similar but unrelated birds, such as the cuckoo shrikes

shrike thrush or shrike tit another name for thickhead (def. 2)

Word Origin for shrike

Old English scrīc thrush; related to Middle Dutch schrīk corncrake; see screech 1, shriek

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