canary
Use Canary in a sentence
i noun
1.
any of several Old World finches of the genus Serinus, especially S. canaria (common canary) native to the Canary Islands and often kept as a pet, in the wild being greenish with brown streaks above and yellow below and in domesticated varieties usually bright yellow or pale yellow.
2.
Also called canary yellow. a light, clear yellow color.
3.
4.
Slang. a female singer, especially with a dance band.
5.
a sweet white wine of the Canary Islands, resembling sherry.
adjective
7.
having the color canary.
00:10
Canary
is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
Origin:
1585–95; < Spanish (Isla) Canaria < Latin Canāria (insula) Dog (Island), equivalent to can(is) dog + -āria, feminine of -ārius -ary
1585–95; < Spanish (Isla) Canaria < Latin Canāria (insula) Dog (Island), equivalent to can(is) dog + -āria, feminine of -ārius -ary
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Canary Islands
plural noun
a group of mountainous islands in the Atlantic Ocean, near the NW coast of Africa, comprising two provinces of Spain. 2894 sq. mi. (7495 sq. km).
Also called Ca·nar·ies.
Related forms
Ca·nar·i·an, adjective, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To canary
Collins
World English Dictionary
canary (kəˈnɛərɪ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n , pl -naries | |
| 1. | a small finch, Serinus canaria, of the Canary Islands and Azores: a popular cagebird noted for its singing. Wild canaries are streaked yellow and brown, but most domestic breeds are pure yellow |
| 2. | See canary yellow |
| 3. | (Austral) history a convict |
| 4. | archaic a sweet wine from the Canary Islands similar to Madeira |
| [C16: from Old Spanish canario of or from the Canary Islands] | |
| Canary Islands or Canaries | |
| —pl n | |
| a group of mountainous islands in the Atlantic off the NW coast of Africa, forming an Autonomous Community of Spain. Pop: 1 944 700 (2003 est) | |
| Canaries or Canaries | |
| —pl n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
canary
type of small songbird, 1650s (short for Canary-bird, 1570s), from Fr. canarie, from Sp. canario "canary bird," lit. "of the Canary Islands," from L. Insula Canaria "Canary Island," largest of the Fortunate Isles, lit. "island of dogs," (canis, gen. canarius) so called because large dogs lived there.
The name was extended to the whole island group (Canariæ Insulæ) by the time of Arnobius (c.300). As a type of wine (from the Canary Islands) from 1580s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Slang Dictionary
canary definition[kəˈnɛri]
|
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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American Heritage
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences
When it comes to global warming, the canary in the coal mine isn't a canary at all.
Many bright feather colors, such as flamingo pink and canary yellow, are related to the foods birds eat.
Annual vines, such as canary vine, offer a new look each year.
Large, bright canary yellow blooms stand out against lush, dark green foliage on this vigorous plant.
Idioms & Phrases
Nearby Words
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