barn owl

American  

noun

1. a yellowish-brown and white owl, Tyto alba, often inhabiting barns and other buildings.

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barn owl British  

noun

1. any owl of the genus Tyto , esp T. alba , having a pale brown and white plumage, long slender legs, and a heart-shaped face: family Tytonidae

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Etymology

Origin of barn owl

First recorded in 1665–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

barn owl

"The piece of its upper arm bone that we have is about 4 inches long, so the entire dinosaur probably had something like a four-foot wingspan, around the size of a barn owl."

From Science Daily ● Jun. 23, 2026

Veterinarians and engineers have studied how a barn owl flies so smoothly in gusty winds, and discovered wings act like a suspension and stabilise the head and torso when flying through disturbed air.

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2025

For those who struggle to tell a bushtit from a barn owl, the team has assembled resources to help distinguish between common local species and can answer individual questions via email.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2025

Juliet, a barn owl, lands on the arm of the best man at a wedding in England this spring.

From New York Times ● Jun. 5, 2024

He spotted Hedwig nestled between a barn owl and a tawny, and hurried over to her, sliding a little on the dropping-strewn floor.

From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling