Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - bird

~ n 1 »BIRD« a creature with wings and feathers that lays eggs and can usually fly  (The tree was full of tiny, brightly-coloured birds.) 2 a little bird told me spoken used to say that you know something, but you will not say how you found out  (A little bird told me that you've got engaged.) 3 the birds and the bees humorous the facts about sex, especially as told to children 4 birds of a feather informal people of the same kind 5 give sb the bird a) AmE informal to make a very rude sign by putting your middle finger up b) BrE to make rude noises in order to show disapproval of a performer, public speaker etc 6 a bird in the hand (is worth two in the bush) used to say that something you already have is worth more than something which is better, but which you cannot be sure of getting 7 the bird has flown informal used to say that the person you are looking for has already left or escaped 8 be (strictly) for the birds AmE informal to be silly, useless, or not practical 9 »WOMAN« BrE old-fashioned a word meaning a young woman which some women think is offensive  (- see also dolly bird) 10 »PERSON« old-fashioned a person of a particular type, especially one who seems strange or unusual  (He's a strange old bird.) 11 do bird BrE slang to spend a period of time in prison  (- see also eat like a bird eat (1a)), early bird early1 (10) home bird home3 (5) kill two birds with one stone kill1 (10))