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Glite Dictionary
European curlew

European curlew

8.6
A large shore bird from Europe with a long curved bill and a loud haunting call
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : aguja europea
  • We watched a European curlew probing the mudflats for food at dawn.

Examples

  • The unique, haunting call of the European curlew echoed across the marshes.

  • Conservationists are working to protect the habitat of the European curlew in several countries.

  • The European curlew is often found in wetlands.

  • Have you ever seen a European curlew in the wild?

  • We watched a European curlew probing the mudflats for food at dawn.

  • The unique, haunting call of the European curlew echoed across the marshes.

  • Conservationists are working to protect the habitat of the European curlew in several countries.

Synonyms

Numenius arquata
vsEuropean curlew
  • UK
9.9

A large wading bird with a long curved bill that lives in Europe, Asia, and North Africa

is the common regional name used in everyday speech

Surface Forms

European curlew singular
European curlews plural

Morphology

European + curlew

The meaning is directly compositional: 'European' (connected with Europe) modifies 'curlew' (a migratory bird), so the phrase denotes a curlew associated with Europe. This adjective+noun pattern is a common, cross-linguistic way to form species or regional descriptions, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will understand it.

Etymology

European curlew probably gets its name from the bird's sound and shape. The word curlew likely copies its haunting 'cur-lee' call, and the bird's long, curved bill that probes the mud makes the name easy to remember.