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Glite Dictionary
European magpie

European magpie

3.9
A common black and white bird with a long tail found across Europe and Asia
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : magpie europea
  • The European magpie is known for its striking black-and-white plumage and long tail.

Examples

  • The European magpie is well known for its noisy chattering and bold behavior.

  • We spotted a European magpie perched on the garden fence this morning.

  • In folklore, the European magpie is often associated with superstition and symbolism.

  • The European magpie is often seen in gardens.

  • I spotted a European magpie on my walk today.

  • On my hike, I saw a European magpie collecting shiny objects to build its nest.

  • Many people enjoy watching the European magpie as it forages for food in urban areas.

Synonyms

magpie
vsEuropean magpie
3 3.5

A large black-and-white bird with a long tail that likes shiny things

emphasizes smart behaviour and a distinctive long tail instead
Pica pica
vsEuropean magpie
  • Specialized
8.9

A black-and-white bird with a long tail that lives in Europe and Asia

is a common description highlighting intelligence and a long tail

Surface Forms

European magpie singular
European magpies plural

Morphology

European + magpie

The compound is a straightforward descriptive noun phrase: 'European' specifies the geographic origin and 'magpie' names the bird, so the overall meaning (a magpie found in Europe) is directly derivable from the constituents. This adjective+noun species-naming pattern is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand the MWE.

Etymology

European magpie names a black-and-white bird famous for picking up shiny things; one popular story says people saw the magpie bringing bright bits to its nest and thought it would 'steal', so the bird became a symbol in old stories about 'good luck' or 'bad luck'.