wren
[ ren ]
/ rɛn /
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noun
any of numerous small, active songbirds of the family Troglodytidae, especially Troglodytes troglodytes, of the Northern Hemisphere, having dark-brown plumage barred with black and a short, upright tail.Compare house wren, marsh wren, rock wren, winter wren.
any of various similar, unrelated birds, especially any of several Old World warblers.
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Origin of wren
before 900; Middle English wrenn(e), Old English wrenna, obscurely akin to Old High German wrendilo,Old Norse rindill
Words nearby wren
wrecking, wrecking bar, wrecking car, wrecking crane, Wrekin, wren, wrench, Wren, Christopher, Wrens, wren-tit, wrest
Definition for wren (2 of 3)
Wren1
[ ren ]
/ rɛn /
noun (sometimes lowercase)Chiefly British Informal.
a member of the Wrens.
Origin of Wren
1First recorded in 1915–20
Definition for wren (3 of 3)
Wren2
[ ren ]
/ rɛn /
noun
Sir Christopher, 1632–1723, English architect.
Percival Christopher, 1885–1941, English novelist.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for wren
British Dictionary definitions for wren (1 of 3)
wren
/ (rɛn) /
noun
any small brown passerine songbird of the chiefly American family Troglodytidae, esp Troglodytes troglodytes (wren in Britain, winter wren in the US and Canada). They have a slender bill and feed on insects
any of various similar birds of the families Muscicapidae (Australian warblers), Xenicidae (New Zealand wrens), etc
Word Origin for wren
Old English wrenna, werna; related to Old High German wrendo, rentilo, Old Norse rindill
British Dictionary definitions for wren (2 of 3)
Wren1
/ (rɛn) /
noun
history informal (in Britain and certain other nations) a member of the former Women's Royal Naval Service
Word Origin for Wren
C20: from the abbreviation WRNS
British Dictionary definitions for wren (3 of 3)
Wren2
/ (rɛn) /
noun
Sir Christopher. 1632–1723, English architect. He designed St Paul's Cathedral and over 50 other London churches after the Great Fire as well as many secular buildings
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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