pelican

/'pelikən/

Thân thiện

A pelican dives into the ocean to catch a fish.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A large water bird: A pelican is a large seabird found in warm regions, known for its long wings and a distinctive large bill with a stretchable throat pouch used for catching and holding fish.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • We saw a pelican diving for fish in the bay.
  • The pelican's pouch can hold several liters of water.
  • Pelicans often fly in a V-formation.

Advanced Usage

• "Pelican crossing": (UK) A type of pedestrian crossing with traffic lights controlled by pedestrians. (Note: This is a compound term where "pelican" is part of a fixed name, not a direct use of the bird's meaning).
  • Press the button and wait for the green man at the pelican crossing.

Variants and Related Words

• Pelicanry (n, rare): A breeding colony or nesting place for pelicans.
  • The island is home to a large pelicanry.

Synonyms

• Seabird: A general term for birds that live primarily on or near the sea.
• Waterbird: A bird that lives on or around water.

Related Idioms

• "A pelican in the wilderness": An old, literary phrase meaning something rare, solitary, or out of place. It originates from biblical imagery.
  • He felt like a pelican in the wilderness, a complete outsider in the bustling city.

Học thuật

Noun

1. large long-winged warm-water seabird having a large bill with a distensible pouch for fish