: any of various usually brightly colored Old World passerine birds (family Oriolidae and especially genus Oriolus)
2
: any of various New World passerine birds (genus Icterus of the family Icteridae) of which the males are usually black and yellow or black and orange
Illustration of oriole
oriole 2
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebMealworm seedcake, for example, is designed to attract bluebirds, orioles, wrens, jays, chickadees and titmice. Kara Carlson, The Seattle Times, 12 July 2017 The stream is home to tree frogs, while orioles, tanagers, crows, hawks and humming birds often fly overhead. Erika I. Ritchie, Orange County Register, 4 May 2017 Behind the birdhouse the bright red blossoms of a bottlebrush tree were attracting Anna’s hummingbirds, while a hooded oriole was sewing an elaborate hanging basket nest into the underside of a broad palm frond. Ernie Cowan Outdoors, sandiegouniontribune.com, 1 July 2017
Word History
Etymology
New Latin oriolus, from Medieval Latin, from Old French oriol, from Latin aureolus golden-colored, diminutive of aureus golden — more at aureus