Illustration of magpie
- magpie 1
1
: any of various birds (especially Pica pica) related to the jays but having a long graduated tail and black-and-white or brightly colored plumage
2
: a person who chatters noisily
3
: one who collects indiscriminately
1
: collected indiscriminately : miscellaneous
magpie compilations of unrelated tidbits—
Helen R. Cross
Helen R. Cross2
: given to indiscriminate collecting : acquisitive
what possible magpie instinct had impelled me to retain them—S. J. Perelman
S. J. PerelmanSynonyms
Examples of magpie in a Sentence
Noun
media magpies will no doubt seize upon the president's latest gaffe and blow it all out of proportion
Adjective
a pack rat whose cramped apartment is filled with a magpie collection of books, old newspapers, and tchotchkes
Recent Examples on the WebThomas Waller, WWD, 16 Sep. 2024
While most animals did not pass Gallup's test, some did, including dolphins, great apes (gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, and bonobos), and magpies.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 10 July 2024
Ebony-Renee Baker, refinery29.com, 4 Sep. 2024
The aloof downtown intellectual, named Luc by her Belgian parents, is a poetic essayist with a magpie mind and a talent for archive spelunking.
—Carl Swanson, Vulture, 9 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for magpie 
Noun
Her magpie collecting led her to her early jewelry, with friends asking her for pieces.
—Thomas Waller, WWD, 16 Sep. 2024
While most animals did not pass Gallup's test, some did, including dolphins, great apes (gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, and bonobos), and magpies.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 10 July 2024
Adjective
Next Zara always nails its accessory selection, from stylish shoes to statement handbags and jewellery that will satisfy all your magpie cravings.
—Ebony-Renee Baker, refinery29.com, 4 Sep. 2024
The aloof downtown intellectual, named Luc by her Belgian parents, is a poetic essayist with a magpie mind and a talent for archive spelunking.
—Carl Swanson, Vulture, 9 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for magpie
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'magpie.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Magpie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magpie. Accessed 28 Sep. 2024.
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