migratory

[ mahy-gruh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee ]
See synonyms for migratory on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. periodically migrating: a migratory species; migratory workers.

  1. pertaining to a migration: migratory movements of birds.

  2. roving; nomadic; wandering.

Origin of migratory

1
First recorded in 1745–55; migrate + -ory1
  • Sometimes mi·gra·tive .

Other words from migratory

  • non·mi·gra·to·ry, adjective
  • pre·mi·gra·to·ry, adjective
  • un·mi·gra·tive, adjective
  • un·mi·gra·to·ry, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for migratory

migratory

/ (ˈmaɪɡrətərɪ, -trɪ) /


adjective
  1. of, relating to, or characterized by migration

  2. nomadic; itinerant

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for migratory

migratory

[ grə-tôr′ē ]


  1. Traveling from one place to another at regular times of year, often over long distances. Salmon, whales, and swallows are all migratory animals.

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