wren

¹ American  

[ren] / rɛn /

noun

1. 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.

2. any of various similar, unrelated birds, especially any of several Old World warblers.

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Wren ² American  

[ren] / rɛn /

noun

(sometimes lowercase)

1. a member of the Wrens.

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Wren ³ American  

[ren] / rɛn /

noun

1. Sir Christopher, 1632–1723, English architect.

2. Percival Christopher, 1885–1941, English novelist.

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wren ¹ British  

/ rɛn /

noun

1. 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

2. any of various similar birds of the families Muscicapidae (Australian warblers), Xenicidae (New Zealand wrens), etc

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Wren ² British  

/ rɛn /

noun

1. informal history (in Britain and certain other nations) a member of the former Women's Royal Naval Service

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Wren ³ British  

/ rɛn /

noun

1. 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

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Etymology

Origin of wren¹

before 900; Middle English wrenn ( e ), Old English wrenna, obscurely akin to Old High German wrendilo, Old Norse rindill

Origin of Wren²

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

It is one of the UK's most-loved garden birds and along with species like wrens can still be heard singing, external long after some other species go quiet.

From BBC

The author’s first drop-in—he prefers the term “co-presence”—is a wren, who is given the run of the place and his own chapter.

From The Wall Street Journal

One day in December, Nat notices gulls, crows, starlings and wrens massing menacingly overhead.

From The Wall Street Journal

"The ground nesting birds, like the skylarks and the meadow pipits, the wrens and stonechats, they'll have lost their nests and eggs."

From BBC

"Birds like chickens, wrens and cassowaries have low values and tend not to fly very far," Baldwin said in explaining the index values.

From Science Daily