Skip to main content
Old World robin

Old World robin

5.0
A small European bird with a red breast that sings and lives in gardens and woods
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : petirrojo europeo
  • The Old World robin is often seen hopping around gardens in search of worms.

Examples

  • Unlike its American namesake, the Old World robin is much smaller and found throughout Europe.

  • Her favorite bird is the Old World robin because of its cheerful song and bright breast.

  • The Old World robin sings beautifully in the morning.

  • Have you seen an Old World robin in your garden?

  • Her favorite bird is the Old World robin because of its cheerful song and bright breast.

  • The Old World robin is often seen hopping around gardens in search of worms.

  • Unlike its American namesake, the Old World robin is much smaller and found throughout Europe.

Synonyms

robin
vsOld World robin
  • UK
9 1.0

A small bird that sings with a red or orange breast found in Europe and Asia

gives a more specific Eurasian description with scientific identification and habitat
redbreast
vsOld World robin
  • Archaic
1 8.1

A small songbird with a red chest, like the European robin

covers the wider Eurasian range rather than focusing mainly on Europe
robin redbreast
vsOld World robin
  • UK
1 4.1

A small brown bird with a bright red breast often seen in gardens and woods

is a shorter natural description used in general contexts rather than that phrase
Erithacus rubecola
vsOld World robin
  • Specialized
9.9

A small bird with a red-orange chest often seen in European gardens

is the common descriptive account rather than the formal scientific label
ruddock
vsOld World robin
  • Archaic
9.9

A small bird that sings with a red breast often seen in gardens

uses a neutral modern description rather than a poetic or archaic term
Erithacus
vsOld World robin
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of small birds like the European robin that live in Europe and nearby areas

refers to a single Eurasian species rather than the broader genus group

Surface Forms

Morphology

old + world + robin

The phrase is compositionally built from 'Old World' + 'robin': 'robin' identifies the bird and 'Old World' signals geographic origin (the Eurasian/Old World range). However, 'Old World' as a conventional geopolitical/biodiversity term may be unfamiliar to a B1 learner, so the precise sense (the specific Eurasian species as opposed to New World robins) is not fully predictable without background knowledge.

Etymology

Old World robin uses Old World to show the bird comes from Europe and Asia, and robin is the small, friendly bird with a red breast. So Old World robin means the small songbird from Europe and Asia with a bright red chest, not the larger American robin.