American water ouzel
- noun
- /əˈmɛrɪkən ˈwɔːtər ˈaʊzəl/
- US
:
mirlo acuático americano
- Unlike most songbirds, the American water ouzel can swim underwater to hunt for food.
Examples
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The American water ouzel is often seen diving in mountain streams to feed on aquatic insects.
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We spotted an American water ouzel as we hiked along the river in Colorado.
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The American water ouzel is often seen near fast-flowing streams.
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Did you spot an American water ouzel during your hike?
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The American water ouzel is often seen diving in mountain streams to feed on aquatic insects.
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Unlike most songbirds, the American water ouzel can swim underwater to hunt for food.
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We spotted an American water ouzel as we hiked along the river in Colorado.
Synonyms
A small bird in western North America that lives by cold streams and dives into water to catch insects
A small, strong bird that lives by fast streams and dives into water to get food
A small strong bird that lives by fast streams and dives for insects
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun phrase is fully compositional: 'American' specifies origin, 'water' describes habitat, and 'ouzel' (a type of bird) names the creature, so the combined meaning is a water-associated bird from America. Even though 'ouzel' is a rare lexical item, a learner who knows the three constituents can readily infer it denotes an American bird that lives in or near water.
Etymology
American water ouzel gives a simple picture: American shows where it lives, water shows it lives in streams, and ouzel is an old word for a small bird also called the 'dipper'. That's why the name means a little songbird that dives into water to find food.
