bird's-eye

1 of 2

noun

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

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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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

Time Traveler
The first known use of bird's-eye was in 1586

Dictionary Entries Near bird's-eye

Cite this Entry

“Bird's-eye.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bird%27s-eye. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on bird's-eye

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!