sparrow
noun
spar·row ˈsper-(ˌ)ō 
ˈspa-(ˌ)rō
1
: any of a genus (Passer of the family Passeridae) of small chiefly brownish or grayish Old World oscine songbirds that include some which have been widely introduced
especially : house sparrow
2
: any of numerous finches (family Emberizidae) that are New World birds (such as the song sparrow or tree sparrow) resembling the Old World sparrows
sparrowlike
ˈsper-(ˌ)ō-ˌlīk
adjective -ə-ˌlīk;
ˈspa-(ˌ)rō-ˌlīk
-rə-ˌlīk
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Two glossy ibises in Eastham and another at Santuit Pond in Mashpee, two yellow-bellied flycatchersCQ in Truro, a Lincoln sparrow in Brewster, and an evening grosbeak in South Yarmouth. 
BostonGlobe.com, 17 Sep. 2022 Dozens of local birds, including the increasingly rare Henslow’s sparrow, are doing surprisingly well in Chicagoland, according to an analysis of 22 years of data by the nonprofit Bird Conservation Network. Chicago Tribune Staff, Chicago Tribune, 15 July 2022 Several upland sandpipers and a Lincoln’s sparrow in Ludlow. BostonGlobe.com, 7 May 2022 An Acadian flycatcher at the Ryder Conservation Area in Sandwich, an olive-sided flycatcher at Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary, a continuing blue grosbeak at the Crane Wildlife Area in Falmouth, and a seaside sparrow at Sandy Neck in West Barnstable. BostonGlobe.com, 4 June 2022 The saltmarsh sparrow population was just 50,000 a decade ago and has declined 9 percent annually. Maddie Bender, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 May 2022 As long as the wetlands don’t disappear entirely, there’s reason to hope the frisky saltmarsh sparrow, with a hand from us, will find a way. Maddie Bender, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 May 2022 Within a year, China’s sparrow population had collapsed. Eyck Freymann, WSJ, 28 Apr. 2022 The notables were two cackling geese at the campus pond on the UMass campus in Amherst, a short-eared owl at the Honey Pot in Hadley, and a clay-colored sparrow in Easthampton. BostonGlobe.com, 12 Feb. 2022 See More
BostonGlobe.com, 17 Sep. 2022 Dozens of local birds, including the increasingly rare Henslow’s sparrow, are doing surprisingly well in Chicagoland, according to an analysis of 22 years of data by the nonprofit Bird Conservation Network. Chicago Tribune Staff, Chicago Tribune, 15 July 2022 Several upland sandpipers and a Lincoln’s sparrow in Ludlow. BostonGlobe.com, 7 May 2022 An Acadian flycatcher at the Ryder Conservation Area in Sandwich, an olive-sided flycatcher at Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary, a continuing blue grosbeak at the Crane Wildlife Area in Falmouth, and a seaside sparrow at Sandy Neck in West Barnstable. BostonGlobe.com, 4 June 2022 The saltmarsh sparrow population was just 50,000 a decade ago and has declined 9 percent annually. Maddie Bender, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 May 2022 As long as the wetlands don’t disappear entirely, there’s reason to hope the frisky saltmarsh sparrow, with a hand from us, will find a way. Maddie Bender, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 May 2022 Within a year, China’s sparrow population had collapsed. Eyck Freymann, WSJ, 28 Apr. 2022 The notables were two cackling geese at the campus pond on the UMass campus in Amherst, a short-eared owl at the Honey Pot in Hadley, and a clay-colored sparrow in Easthampton. BostonGlobe.com, 12 Feb. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English sparow, from Old English spearwa; akin to Old High German sparo sparrow
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing sparrow
Kids Definition
sparrow
noun
spar·row ˈsper-ō
: a small songbird that has usually brownish or grayish feathers
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