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fledgling

fledgling

6.1
Describes a young bird that has just learned to fly
  • adjective
  • /ˈflɛdʒlɪŋ/
translation icon : recién emplumado
  • We suspected that parent eagle owls might use them to judge the relative fitness of their young during their critical fledgling stage, and then allocate food to the fittest.

Examples

  • The eggs and fledgling turtles are on their own from the time the adult turtle leaves.

    Blog text (5)
  • I believe his destiny may lie within the mandate of my mission, but the fledgling hawk must be re-pinioned before he is ready to rejoin the Hunt.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • I am just a fledgling new to flight.

  • At this moment, six fledgling robins call me mother.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • The United States at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777-78, a fledgling baby born on July 4, 1776, and a real live nephew of Uncle Sam, barely a year old.

    Academic text (1992)
  • The fledgling bird took its first flight from the nest, fluttering awkwardly in the air.

  • As a fledgling artist, she was excited to showcase her first painting at the gallery.

  • The fledgling hawks spread their wings, ready to soar into the sky for the first time.

Synonyms

fledged
vsfledgling
  • Specialized
1 5.3

Birds that have grown the feathers they need can fly

is the newly able to fly stage, not a fully mature bird
full-fledged
vsfledgling
1 5.5

A bird with fully grown feathers that is ready to fly

is the earlier, just flight-ready stage rather than fully mature
fledgeling
vsfledgling
  • UK
5.5

Having feathers for flying and still young

is the same meaning but spelled differently
fully fledged
vsfledgling
4.8

Having all the feathers and strength needed to fly away from the nest

is the initial flight-ready phase rather than complete maturity

Antonyms

64 3.4

Fully developed and ready to eat or use

Compounds

A new small company in early stages, often using new technology

How Mature

adult
110 1.0
juvenile
79 3.9
fledgling
6.1
immature
15 3.0
dependent
27 3.7

Surface Forms

fledgling positive

Morphology

fledgling = fledge (semi-transparent) = fledge + ling

The word is built from 'fledge' + '-ling', but the bird-specific sense is somewhat specialized rather than fully predictable for a beginner.

Etymology

Fledgling as an adjective comes from fledge 'to grow feathers' and means 'ready to fly', so it describes a young bird that has just developed the feathers needed for flight.