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neb

neb

2 9.9
A bird's or animal's beak that sticks out and is used for eating
  • noun
  • /nɛb/
  • Archaic
translation icon : pico
  • The hawk's neb was sharp, making it an effective hunter in the wild.

Examples

  • A parrot's colorful neb is well-suited for cracking open hard seeds.

  • The blue jay has a striking neb that blends well with its vibrant feathers.

  • Are Democrats giving up on Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb.?

    Blog text (17)
  • He gained his street smarts growing up on the mean cul-de-sacs of a master-planned community in Omaha, Neb.

    Blog text (17)
  • Concerns about student and public ticket sales for this Saturday's noon kick against Indiana were at the forefront of discussions just minutes after the Nittany Lions stepped off the field last week in Lincoln, Neb.

    Blog text (25)

Synonyms

beak
vsneb
35 1.0

The hard pointed part of a bird's mouth used to eat and pick up food

is broader and also covers projecting noses in other animals
snout
vsneb
25 3.2

The long part that sticks out from an animal's head and includes the nose and jaws

is narrower, focusing on hard mouthparts rather than broad head projections
bill
vsneb
11 3.6

A hard mouth part on a bird used to eat and groom

is more general, including projecting noses and similar parts in animals
pecker
vsneb
7 6.8

A bird's hard mouth part used for pecking and eating

is the neutral term used for both hard mouthparts and noses in animals

Surface Forms

neb singular
nebs plural

Etymology

Neb comes from an old Norse word nebb that meant 'beak' or 'nose'. So neb is an old word for a bird's 'beak' or 'bill'.