seedeater

noun

seed·​eat·​er ˈsēd-ˌē-tər How to pronounce seedeater (audio)
: a bird (such as a finch) whose diet consists basically of seeds

Examples of seedeater in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This is because as seedeaters, the birds wait for thistles to produce seed before building nests and feeding their young. John Heasly, USA TODAY, 6 July 2023 Their preferences in color and pattern caused the evolution of different species of seedeater, all with the same behavior and diet, but with males that look different. James Gorman, New York Times, 24 May 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'seedeater.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1821, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of seedeater was circa 1821

Dictionary Entries Near seedeater

Cite this Entry

“Seedeater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seedeater. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

seedeater

noun
seed·​eat·​er ˈsēd-ˌēt-ər How to pronounce seedeater (audio)
: a bird (as a finch) that eats mostly seeds

More from Merriam-Webster on seedeater

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