bird of paradise

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bird of paradise

n. pl. birds of paradise

1. Any of various birds of the family Paradisaeidae, native to northeast Australia, New Guinea, and adjacent islands, usually having brilliant plumage and long tail feathers in the male.

2. Any of several African plants of the genus Strelitzia, especially S. reginae, cultivated for their showy orange and blue flowers that emerge from a beak-shaped bract.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

bird of paradise

1. (Animals) any songbird of the family Paradisaeidae of New Guinea and neighbouring regions, the males of which have brilliantly coloured ornate plumage

2. (Plants) bird-of-paradise flower any of various banana-like plants of the genus Strelitzia, esp S. reginae, that are native to tropical southern Africa and South America and have purple bracts and large orange or yellow flowers resembling birds' heads: family Strelitziaceae

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

bird′ of par′adise

any of various songbirds of the family Paradisaeidae, of New Guinea and adjacent regions, the males of which typically have elegant plumes used in mating displays.

[1850–60]

bird-of-par•a•dise

(ˈbɜrd əvˈpær əˌdaɪs, -ˌdaɪz)

n., pl. birds-of-paradise.

a S African plant, Strelitzia reginae, having a stiff flower with five stamens and two erect, pointed orange-and-blue petals.

Also called bird′-of-par′adise flow`er.

[1880–85]

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Noun	1.	bird of paradise - a tropical flowering shrub having bright orange or red flowers; sometimes placed in genus Poinciana Caesalpinia gilliesii, Poinciana gilliesii, poinciana Caesalpinia, genus Caesalpinia - small spiny tropical trees or shrubs; includes the small genus or subgenus Poinciana flowering shrub - shrub noted primarily for its flowers
	2.	bird of paradise - ornamental plant of tropical South Africa and South America having stalks of orange and purplish-blue flowers resembling a bird Strelitzia reginae herb, herbaceous plant - a plant lacking a permanent woody stem; many are flowering garden plants or potherbs; some having medicinal properties; some are pests genus Strelitzia, Strelitzia - small genus of large perennial evergreen herbs having leaves resembling those of banana plants; sometimes placed in family Musaceae
	3.	bird of paradise - any of numerous brilliantly colored plumed birds of the New Guinea area oscine, oscine bird - passerine bird having specialized vocal apparatus family Paradisaeidae, Paradisaeidae - birds of paradise Ptloris paradisea, riflebird - velvety black Australian bird of paradise with green and purple iridescence on head and tail

Translations

ave del paraíso

paratiisilintu

oiseau de paradis paradisier

paradisea uccello del Paradiso

References in classic literature ?

"Nor I, Ned, if I do not catch a bird of paradise."

But if my wishes were satisfied by the possession of the bird of paradise, the Canadian's were not yet.

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Aurelia could have understood the feeling of a narrow-minded and conventional hen who has brought a strange, intrepid duckling into the world; but her situation was still more wonderful, for she could only compare her sensations to those of some quiet brown Dorking who has brooded an ordinary egg and hatched a bird of paradise. Such an idea had crossed her mind more than once during the past fortnight, and it flashed to and fro this mellow October morning when Rebecca came into the room with her arms full of goldenrod and flaming autumn leaves.

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Bessie had been down into the kitchen, and she brought up with her a tart on a certain brightly painted china plate, whose bird of paradise, nestling in a wreath of convolvuli and rosebuds, had been wont to stir in me a most enthusiastic sense of admiration; and which plate I had often petitioned to be allowed to take in my hand in order to examine it more closely, but had always hitherto been deemed unworthy of such a privilege.

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As the years went on he opposed her less and less, whence Rosamond concluded that he had learned the value of her opinion; on the other hand, she had a more thorough conviction of his talents now that he gained a good income, and instead of the threatened cage in Bride Street provided one all flowers and gilding, fit for the bird of paradise that she resembled.

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O'Dowd in her turban and bird of paradise. Having put the Collector into the hands of his servant, Dobbin loitered about, smoking his cigar before the inn door.

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It is better to be a young June bug than an old bird of paradise.

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If there was a beautiful lily, or a sweet rose, you had to search for it, concealed in some corner behind a mother with a turban, or an aunt with a bird of paradise.

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"She wore some sort of a blue thing, with a confounded bird of Paradise in it, that kept whisking into my face every time she turned her head."

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"I dare say, my dear," said Lord Henry, shutting the door behind her as, looking like a bird of paradise that had been out all night in the rain, she flitted out of the room, leaving a faint odour of frangipanni.

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Male unique Bird of paradise Male birds of paradise attract females with their dance moves, which they are famous for, like an avian Diversity.

Romancing with that animal magic

Baguio alias Andring, a resident of Purok Bird of Paradise, Barangay Malabog.

Widow, 68, killed in drive-by shooting

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