a small Eurasian rosaceous tree, Prunus padus, with clusters of white flowers and small black fruits
See also cherry (sense 1)
bird cherry in American English
noun
1.
any of several species of cherry, esp Prunus padus (European bird cherry), of Europe and Asia, and P. pensylvanica (pin cherry) of the U.S.
2.
the fruit of any such tree, for which birds have a particular liking
Word origin
[1590–1600]This word is first recorded in the period 1590–1600. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Byzantine, dummy, fixture, mission, squeeze
Examples of 'bird cherry' in a sentence
bird cherry
Tree species include alder, ash, bird cherry and white willow.
The Sun (2015)
Millions of web-spinning bird-cherry ermine moths have coated headstones and benches with spider-like nests.
The Sun (2013)
Then in the spring the bird-cherry tree gave me: a bridal bough, and said again: you know.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Bird cherries, which are commoner in the north of the country, have sparkling strings of white flowers on them.