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Glite Dictionary
great bustard

great bustard

9.5
A very large bird from Europe and Asia that is the heaviest flying bird in Europe
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : avutarda
  • Have you ever seen a great bustard in the wild?

Examples

  • Conservationists are working to protect the habitat of the great bustard.

  • The great bustard is considered the heaviest flying bird in Europe.

  • We spotted a great bustard during our trip to the grasslands of Spain.

  • The great bustard is a remarkable bird.

  • Bird watchers hope to see a great bustard during their trip to the nature reserve in Southern England.

  • The male great bustard is known for its impressive display during the mating season, showcasing its large wingspan.

  • Conservation efforts are underway to protect the great bustard, which is the heaviest flying bird species in Europe.

Synonyms

bustard
vsgreat bustard
1 9.6

A large bird with a very heavy body that lives in open fields and flies despite its weight

is a specific very large species noted for being Europe's heaviest flying bird
Otis tarda
vsgreat bustard
  • Specialized
9.9

A very large land bird found in parts of Europe and Asia and the largest land bird in Europe

is the common descriptive name focusing on its large size and weight

Surface Forms

great bustard singular
great bustards plural

Morphology

great + bustard

The meaning is directly compositional: 'great' (very large) modifies 'bustard' (a large bird), so a learner who knows both words can infer this refers to a very large bustard. This follows a common adjective + noun pattern found across languages and involves no idiomatic or metaphorical shift, making it immediately understandable to B1 learners who know the constituents.

Etymology

Great bustard joins great (meaning 'very large') with bustard (the name for a heavy wild bird). Imagine a huge, heavy bird walking in the grass, and that picture explains why the name means this very large flying bird.