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Glite Dictionary
family Corvidae

family Corvidae

7.6
A group of birds that includes crows, ravens, magpies, and jays
  • noun
  • /ˈfæmɪli ˈkɔrvɪdeɪ/
  • Specialized
: familia Corvidae
  • Jays and magpies are well-known representatives of the family Corvidae.

Examples

  • Members of the family Corvidae are known for their intelligence and complex social behavior.

  • The family Corvidae is known for its intelligence.

  • The family Corvidae includes some of the most adaptable and widespread birds in the world.

  • Did you know that the family Corvidae includes crows?

  • Crows are known for their intelligence and are part of the family Corvidae, which includes ravens and jays.

  • The family Corvidae comprises various bird species, such as magpies, rooks, and choughs.

  • Birdwatchers often enjoy observing members of the family Corvidae, including jackdaws and ravens.

Synonyms

Corvidae
vsfamily Corvidae
  • Specialized
1 9.8

A family of birds like crows, ravens, and magpies that are very smart

focuses on which bird species are included rather than behavioral traits

Surface Forms

family Corvidae singular
families Corvidae plural

Morphology

family + Corvidae

This phrase is compositionally transparent: 'family' denotes a taxonomic grouping and 'Corvidae' is the proper taxonomic name, so the meaning is simply the taxonomic family called Corvidae (the group containing crows, ravens, etc.). The same noun + taxon-name pattern is common across languages and follows standard scientific naming conventions, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

The name family Corvidae comes from the old Latin word corvus, which means 'crow'. People used this word because the group includes crows, ravens, magpies and jays, so the name shows it is a 'family' of similar, clever birds.