Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
water thrush

water thrush

9.1
A brown North American songbird that lives near streams and rivers
  • noun
  • /ˈwɔːtər θrʌʃ/
  • US
translation icon : mirlo acuático
  • The water thrush is often seen hopping along rocks by the riverbank.

Examples

  • We spotted a Northern water thrush in the wetlands yesterday afternoon.

  • Conservationists monitor the water thrush population to assess the health of streamside habitats.

  • The water thrush is known for its distinctive song.

  • I spotted a water thrush near the riverbank yesterday.

  • The water thrush sings beautifully while perched on a branch over the river.

  • Every spring, the water thrush returns to nest along the banks of the streams.

  • Birdwatchers are excited to see the water thrush foraging for insects near the water.

Surface Forms

water thrush singular
water thrushes plural

Morphology

water + thrush

The compound 'water thrush' straightforwardly combines 'water' (habitat) and 'thrush' (a small songbird), so a learner who knows both words can infer it is a thrush associated with water or streams. This noun–noun modifier pattern is regular and cross-linguistically common, making the meaning immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Water thrush is a compound name that gives a clear picture: a thrush, a small brown songbird, that lives near water. So, the name explains why it means a brown warbler found 'by streams and rivers' today.