:a bird that usually hunts at night and that has a large head and eyes, a powerful hooked beak, and strong claws猫头鹰 — see color picture on this page; see also barn owl, night owl, screech owl
: any of an order (Strigiformes) of chiefly nocturnal birds of prey with a large head and eyes, short hooked bill, strong talons, and soft fluffy often brown-mottled plumage
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebThis creative owl will give your visitors something to hoot about! Rebecca Shinners, Country Living, 7 Sep. 2022 Those include an ostrich, emus, a peacock, two sandhill cranes, cockatoos, and a Eurasian eagle owl, according to the sanctuary's website. Georgia News, ajc, 23 Aug. 2022 The virus was confirmed in a wild owl that was found dead in Cache County last month. Jordan Miller, The Salt Lake Tribune, 18 May 2022 And hazing products, products that are meant to discourage animals from from entering the general area, include flight diverters or a plastic owl, and, in some cases, noise machines, McGuire said. Byjulia Jacobo, ABC News, 7 May 2022 The bird is one of the most distinctive roaming the Earth – with an owl-like face, pot belly and lifespan that can reach a whopping 90 years. Wyatte Grantham-philips, USA TODAY, 10 Aug. 2022 Sinden urged people who may spot the missing owl to not to approach it themselves. Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 9 June 2022 Cornelius separated his cupped hands and the tiny owl launched westward. Marc Lester, Anchorage Daily News, 24 May 2022 Or the owl somehow got into the house and in a panic, attacked her. Milan Polk, Men's Health, 10 May 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English owle, from Old English ūle; akin to Old High German uwila owl
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of owl was before the 12th century
ADJECTIVE | OWL + VERB | OWL + NOUNADJECTIVE➤barn, spotted, etc.倉鴞、斑林鴞等▸➤stuffed貓頭鷹標本▸➤wise (oftenfigurative) 聰明人◇He's a wise old owl.他是個聰明的老傢伙。➤night (figurative) 夜貓子◇I was a night owl when I was younger, but these days I'd rather go to bed early.我年輕時是個夜貓子,近來卻更願早早就寢。OWL + VERB➤fly貓頭鷹飛翔▸➤hoot, screech貓頭鷹鳴叫/尖叫▸➤catch sth, prey on sth貓頭鷹抓住⋯/捕食⋯◇Owls prey on small rodents.貓頭鷹捕食小型嚙齒動物。➤nest, perch, roost貓頭鷹築巢/棲息/歸巢OWL + NOUN➤pellet食丸(貓頭鷹回吐的小球狀難消化物)