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Glite Dictionary
ivorybill

ivorybill

9.9
A large black and white woodpecker with a pale beak now almost extinct
  • noun
  • /ˈaɪvəriˌbɪl/
  • US
translation icon : pájaro carpintero de pico de marfil
  • Have you ever seen an ivorybill in the wild?

Examples

  • The ivorybill was once believed to be extinct, but there have been recent unconfirmed sightings.

  • Birdwatchers travelled to the swamps in hopes of glimpsing an ivorybill.

  • The striking pattern and large size make the ivorybill distinct from other woodpeckers.

  • The ivorybill is a rare sight in the forests.

  • The ivorybill, once common in the forests of the southern United States, is now considered nearly extinct.

  • Birdwatchers hope to spot the rare ivorybill during their expeditions in the wetlands.

  • The ivorybill woodpecker is recognized by its striking black-and-white plumage and distinctive ivory-colored bill.

Synonyms

ivory-billed woodpecker
vsivorybill
  • US
2 9.9

A large black and white bird with an ivory colored bill that is very rare and may be extinct

describes the bird as now nearly extinct
Campephilus principalis
vsivorybill
  • Specialized
9.9

A large black and white woodpecker from the southern United States and Cuba thought nearly extinct

uses the common everyday name rather than the formal Latin label

Surface Forms

ivorybill singular
ivorybills plural

Morphology

ivorybill = ivory + bill (transparent) = ivory + bill

The compound is directly interpretable as 'a (bird) with an ivory-coloured bill', so learners who know 'ivory' and 'bill' can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Ivorybill is made from the simple words ivory and bill. The word ivory means 'white, like an elephant tusk' and bill means 'beak', so the name describes a woodpecker with an 'ivory' colored beak.