goldfinch

[gōld′finc̸h′]

A goldfinch perched on a branch.

Licensed from iStockPhoto

noun

any of various yellow-and-black finches; esp., a Eurasian songbird (Carduelis carduelis) or an American species (C. tristis)

Origin: Middle English from Old English goldfinc: see gold and amp; finch

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

noun

Any of several small American finches of the genus Carduelis, especially C. tristis, of which the male has yellow plumage with a black forehead, wings, and tail.
A small Eurasian finch (Carduelis carduelis) having brownish plumage with black wings boldly marked with yellow and a red patch across the face.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th edition Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

How would you define this word? Add your helpful comment.