magpie Hear it!

magpie Definition

mag·pie (mag′pī′)

noun

  1. any of several jaylike corvids, passerine birds characterized by black-and-white coloring, a long, tapering tail, and a habit of noisy chattering
  2. a person who chatters
  3. a person who collects odds and ends

Etymology: < Mag, dim. of Margaret + pie

magpie Synonyms

magpie

n.

  1. Gossip

    chatterer, windbag, idle talker; see gossip 2.

  2. Black and white bird

    jackdaw, jay, crow, raven; see bird 1.

magpie Usage Examples

Possessives

  • nest: Make no mistake, only an erudite writer could have held together such a magpie's nest of brilliant ideas.

Converse of object

  • crow: Little ringed plovers have nested on these islands since 1997, in spite of heavy predation from crows, magpies and herons.
  • join: Out-of-contract defender Matt Somner, 23, has also left Aldershot to join the Magpies on a two-year deal.
  • see: The second half saw the Magpies stick to their task of breaking down probably the physically toughest side in the division.
  • give: He believes a packed York Road will gives the Magpies the boost they need to defeat Lewes tomorrow ( Saturday ).
  • keep: But up stepped man of the match Wilson with a top class display of quality goalkeeping to keep the Magpies in the game.
  • put: Shearer played his part by putting the Magpies in the lead from the penalty spot.

Preposition: at

  • bay: Time and again the Swindon defense were hard pushed to keep the rampant Magpies at bay.

Adjective modifier

  • azure-winged: Large numbers of Azure-winged Magpies fed in the surrounding olive groves, with a flock of at least 70 seen going to roost.
  • Australian: A pair of Australian Magpies were around the area.
  • more: How times have changed: more magpies, fewer sparrows.
  • young: With two of our players on first team duty, a number away on their holidays, things look bright for the young magpies.
  • common: In the surrounding scrub there were lots of Common Magpies, of the local race with the bright blue mark behind the eye.
  • black-billed: Keen-eyed Golden Eagle and Coyote patrol the area, while Black-billed Magpies watch for leftovers.

Modifies a noun

  • robin: Star billing goes to the magpie robin, seventh rarest bird in the world, for whom Frégate was once the last refuge.
  • boss: Magpies boss Dennis Greene has already logged on, with a promise to answer fans' questions throughout the season, within reason.
  • manager: Magpies manager Alan Devonshire said: " It was good game.
  • collection: This magpie collection also found a natural outlet in animated films, of which Paolozzi made three with different collaborators.
  • fan: Magpies fans can now buy shares in the new company.
  • connection: If you want to test your magpie connection now, then click Yes.
magpie Quotes

Thou art a beaten dog beneath the hail, A swollen magpie in a fitful sun, Half black half white Nor knowst'ou wing from tail Pull down thy vanity.

—Pound, Ezra Loomis