canary
2
9.9
- noun
- /kəˈnɛri/
- Archaic
:
cantante (informal, anticuado)
- The talented canary captivated the audience with her soulful voice during the jazz concert.
- canary who could sing
Examples
-
I'll sing like a canary.
-
Ella Fitzgerald began her career as a "canary," a girl next door with a lovely voice who served a primarily decorative function.
Academic text (2004) -
She's a canary.
-
Williams, McPartland, and canary Maxine Sullivan were the only women pictured in Art Kane's famous 1958 Esquire magazine photograph of fifty-seven jazz greats.
Academic text (2004) -
After performing several popular hits, the canary received a standing ovation from the delighted crowd.
-
Everyone agreed that the new canary at the club had a unique style that brought a fresh vibe to the music scene.
Synonyms
16
4.4
A small bird that sings beautifully at night
Idioms
To smile in a proud, secret way because you feel pleased with yourself
- Informal
A person who looks very pleased because they have a secret success
Compounds
1
3.0
A group of Spanish volcanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean near northwest Africa
A fern from the Canary Islands and Madeira with soft, hairy underground stems like a hare's foot
A tall North American tree with tulip-shaped yellow flowers and soft white wood used for cabinets
A tall grass that lives for many years and grows in wet places like riverbanks and ditches
- Specialized
A perennial grass from Australia and South Africa grown for animal feed
Surface Forms
Etymology
Calling a female singer a canary came from the bird's fame for singing; a canary in music meant a woman who sang in clubs or bands. That's why the word was used to mean a singer.