sparrow

[ spar-oh ]

noun

1. any of numerous American finches of the family Emberizinae. Compare chipping sparrow, song sparrow.
2. any member of the Old World genus Passer, formerly thought to be closely related to the weaverbirds but now placed in their own family, Passeridae.
3. British. the house sparrow.
4. any of several other unrelated small birds. Compare Java sparrow, hedge sparrow.
5. Sparrow, Military. a 12-foot (4-meter), all-weather, radar-guided U.S. air-to-air missile with an 88-pound (40-kilogram) high-explosive warhead.

sparrow

/ ˈspærəʊ /

noun

1. any weaverbird of the genus Passer and related genera, esp the house sparrow, having a brown or grey plumage and feeding on seeds or insects
2. any of various North American finches, such as the chipping sparrow ( Spizella passerina ), that have a dullish streaked plumage

Derived Forms

• ˈsparrow-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• sparrow·less adjective
• sparrow·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sparrow¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English sparowe, Old English spearwa; cognate with Gothic sparwa, Old Norse spǫrr

Word History and Origins

Origin of sparrow¹

Old English spearwa; related to Old Norse spörr, Old High German sparo

Example Sentences

On weekdays, my home office is quiet, save for the sounds of sparrows.

From Quartz

They even make it harder for sparrows to fight off West Nile virus.

From Science News For Students

The fan of feathers at the base of its tail would have resembled those typically observed in present-day birds such as pigeons or sparrows.

From Popular-Science

In the new study, Rogalla and colleagues turned to sunbirds, nectar-feeding birds typically smaller than sparrows that are native to Africa, Asia and Australia.

From Science News

Out my window, the sparrows were chirping excitedly, not ready to call it a day.

From Nautilus

“No eyes are on the sparrow, eyes are on the sparrow / He is singing anyway.”

From The Daily Beast

Before she finished I began to paint, and she resumed the pose, smiling and chattering like a sparrow.

From The Daily Beast

A man “in traditional Alpine costume” addresses a group of children while holding a sparrow.

From The Daily Beast

I can hear her now warbling her own rendition of "His Eye Is on the Sparrow."

From The Daily Beast

But she is a girl, and she does not mind her jack-sparrow being a trifle headstrong, if only he has a kind heart.

From Project Gutenberg

Over near Neighbour Brown's fence they were peeping through the green leaves at the song-sparrow's nest.

From Project Gutenberg

A song sparrow was singing out by the road, and the thin, sweet flutings of a Peabody came from the pasture.

From Project Gutenberg

A magnificent view is had from Sparrow Hill; the ascent is made by a steep and tortuous road.

From Project Gutenberg

Was the girl going away any real part of the strength and beauty of the old Sparrow place?

From Project Gutenberg