perch Hear it!

perch¹ Definition

perch (pʉrc̸h)

noun pl. perch or perch′es

  1. any of a family (Percidae) of small, spiny-finned, freshwater, percoid food fishes of Europe and America; esp., a yellowish species (Perca flavescens) of North America
  2. any of various other spiny-finned bony fishes, as the white perch and the surfperches

Etymology: ME perche < OFr < L perca < Gr perkē < IE base *per-, speckled, colorful > Ger farbe, color, OE forn, trout

perch² Definition

perch (pʉrc̸h)

noun

  1. a horizontal rod, pole, etc. provided as a roost for birds
  2. anything, as a branch or wire, upon which a bird rests
  3. any resting place, position, or vantage point, esp. a high or insecure one
    1. a unit of linear measure equal to 5 yards (5.029 meters); rod
    2. a unit of land measure equal to 30 square yards (25.3 square meters)
    3. a cubic measure for stone, usually equal to 24 cubic feet (.70 cubic meters)
  5. a pole connecting the front and rear axletrees of a wagon, carriage, etc.

Etymology: ME perche < OFr < L pertica, a pole, staff

intransitive verb

to alight or rest on or as on a perch

Etymology: Fr percher < OFr < the n.

transitive verb

to place or set on or as on a perch

perch Synonyms

perch

n.

seat, pole, landing place; see roost.

perch Synonyms

perch

v.

roost, settle down, land; see rest 1, sit 1, 2.

perch Usage Examples

Object

  • boulder: I carefully hopped up onto it mindful of a load of perched boulders.
  • owl: The middle tree has a hole in which is perched the cute baby owl.
  • eagle: Dave picks up a dark eagle perched in a tree!
  • sump: In my minds eye the name Olly's perched sump ' were already written on the survey.
  • stool: Perching stool with adjustable height, backrest and armrests.
  • flake: Take care with a perched flake in the corner.

Preposition: on

  • hillside: From the museum itself, perched on the hillside overlooking Airedale, you can see quite an expanse of open country.
  • hilltop: High Houses - Ireby A restored Cumbrian Farmhouse built in 1669, perched on a hilltop with views toward Scotland.
  • stool: Casal perched on a stool stops, starts, the song like you might push in the pause button on the CD player.
  • mountainside: Inland Provence is also the home to many pretty villages perched on the mountainsides, which are a delight to explore.
  • ledge: Perched on a ledge is the house Frey designed for himself in 1963.
  • outcrop: The castle is perched on a rocky outcrop above the west shore.

Adjective modifier

  • lofty: For Wales or Ireland or Scotland to beat the English they have to drag them down off their lofty perch.
  • 2lb: I shall continue to try for my first 2lb plus perch of the season.
  • precarious: I felt strangely helpless and vulnerable as the first tinkling chunks whizzed by, Es cursing increasingly loudly from his precarious perch high above.

Converse of object

catch: Nathan Smith caught 2 perch to 8oz using a spinner on Sunday.

Modifying Another Word

precariously: It should be perched precariously on top - carried, not worn.

Noun used with modifier

pilothouse: From his pilothouse perch river travel began on our cruise mysterious orinoco river.

Preposition: in

  • tree: Dave picks up a dark eagle perched in a tree!
  • bush: It then perched in a low bush and JFC was then able to approach it to within a few feet to obtain photographs.