bird's-eye

1 of 2

noun

ˈbərdz-ˌī 

1

: any of numerous plants with small bright-colored flowers

especially : either of two speedwells (Veronica chamaedrys or V. persica)

2

a

: an allover pattern for textiles consisting of a small diamond with a center dot

b

: a fabric woven with this pattern

3

: a small spot in wood surrounded with an ellipse of concentric fibers

bird's-eye

2 of 2

adjective

1

: marked with spots resembling birds' eyes

2

: having or involving a bird's-eye view

bird's-eye perspective

Synonyms

Adjective

• all-around
• all-round
• broad
• general
• nonspecific
• overall

Examples of bird's-eye in a Sentence

Adjective

a bird's-eye look at the current situation in that part of the world

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For prime viewing of fall colors, be sure to climb the lookout tower for a bird's-eye view of the park. —Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 16 Oct. 2024

This five-night luxury experience kicks off with a helicopter tour over Mexico's vast agave fields, giving you a literal bird's-eye view of where the tequila magic begins. —Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024

See fall foliage at a bird's-eye view at the Eagle's Nest, the highest point of elevation at 300 feet, or hike up to the House of Apache Fires for a different view. —Lauren De Young, The Arizona Republic, 28 Sep. 2024

For a bird's-eye view, head to Bean Blossom Overlook and Hesitation Point. —Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 23 Sep. 2024

Geared primarily to domestic and international travelers, Grand Tour Italia offers an immersive, bird's-eye view of the diverse culinary and cultural traditions of Italy’s 20 regions, designed to whet your appetite for further exploration. —Irene S. Levine, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024

Someone with a bird's-eye view of the situation is Mary Daly, CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, part of the national system responsible for setting monetary policy, maintaining a stable financial system, and ensuring maximal employment. —Will Knight, WIRED, 11 Apr. 2024

Look to integrate any disparate systems for a more unified, bird's-eye view of operations. —Nishith Rastogi, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024

From December through March, ski or snowshoe the seven-mile South Rim Drive to see a bird's-eye view of the Gunnison River nearly 3,000 feet below. —Sarah L. Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

bird's-eye

adjective

ˈbərd-ˌzī

1

a

: seen from above as if by a flying bird

bird's-eye view

b

: general entry 1 sense 3, cursory

a bird's-eye survey of American history

2

: having spots resembling birds' eyes

bird's-eye maple

also : made of wood containing such spots