plover
noun
plo·ver ˈplə-vər 
ˈplō-
ˈplō- plural plover or plovers
1
: any of a family (Charadriidae) of shorebirds that differ from the sandpipers in having a short hard-tipped bill and usually a stouter more compact build
2
: any of various birds (such as a turnstone or sandpiper) related to the plovers
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web An American golden-plover at Orchard Beach in Squantum, a marbled godwit at the Squantum Marshes, a little blue heron at Rosemary Lake in Needham, and two black vultures in the Blue Hills in Canton and another black vulture in Wrentham. 
BostonGlobe.com, 13 Aug. 2022 The mystery plover could also have come from an unmonitored nest in the Great Lakes region, or even the Great Plains. Nara Schoenberg, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2022 Crab plover birds and green herons flap here and there among the trees, landing to stalk across the soft sediment. Barry Neild, CNN, 4 Aug. 2022 The plover monitors are tasked with the seemingly straightforward job of watching the birds. Freep.com, 27 May 2022 The overall plover season looks promising, Cuthbert said, between lower lake levels and a strong finish to the last nesting season. Morgan Greene, Chicago Tribune, 26 May 2022 The first plover returned to Sleeping Bear Dunes on April 11, 2022. Freep.com, 27 May 2022 Possibilities behind the plover's mass disappearance include rocket explosions, habitat reductions from burning rocket debris, loud noise and general encroachment upon the species' native lands, according to FWS. Dan Carson, Chron, 4 May 2022 But that plover’s visit was a sign that other plovers may be heading north. Morgan Greene, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2022 See More
BostonGlobe.com, 13 Aug. 2022 The mystery plover could also have come from an unmonitored nest in the Great Lakes region, or even the Great Plains. Nara Schoenberg, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2022 Crab plover birds and green herons flap here and there among the trees, landing to stalk across the soft sediment. Barry Neild, CNN, 4 Aug. 2022 The plover monitors are tasked with the seemingly straightforward job of watching the birds. Freep.com, 27 May 2022 The overall plover season looks promising, Cuthbert said, between lower lake levels and a strong finish to the last nesting season. Morgan Greene, Chicago Tribune, 26 May 2022 The first plover returned to Sleeping Bear Dunes on April 11, 2022. Freep.com, 27 May 2022 Possibilities behind the plover's mass disappearance include rocket explosions, habitat reductions from burning rocket debris, loud noise and general encroachment upon the species' native lands, according to FWS. Dan Carson, Chron, 4 May 2022 But that plover’s visit was a sign that other plovers may be heading north. Morgan Greene, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French plover, pluvier, from Vulgar Latin *pluviarius, from Latin pluvia rain — more at pluvial
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing plover
Kids Definition
plover
noun
plo·ver ˈplə-vər
ˈplō-
: a small shorebird having a shorter and stouter bill than the related sandpiper
- bespotting
- bespoused
- bespouses
- bespousing
- bespread
- bespreading
- bespreads
- besprent
- besprenter
- besprentest
- besprinkle
- besprinkled
- besprinkles
- besprinkling
- bess beetle
- bess-bug
- Bessarabia
- bessarabian
- bessarabians
- Bessel function
- Bessel's day numbers
- bessel's star numbers
- Besselian elements
- Bessemer
- Bessemer copper