MAGPIE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does magpie mean? 

• MAGPIE (noun)
  The noun MAGPIE has 3 senses:

1. long-tailed black-and-white crow that utters a raucous chattering call

2. someone who collects things that have been discarded by others

3. an obnoxious and foolish and loquacious talker

  Familiarity information: MAGPIE used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MAGPIE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Long-tailed black-and-white crow that utters a raucous chattering call

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Hypernyms ("magpie" is a kind of...):

corvine bird (birds of the crow family)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "magpie"):

European magpie; Pica pica (a common magpie of Eurasia)

American magpie; Pica pica hudsonia (a magpie of Rocky Mountains in North America)

Holonyms ("magpie" is a member of...):

genus Pica; Pica (magpies)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Someone who collects things that have been discarded by others

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

magpie; pack rat; scavenger

Hypernyms ("magpie" is a kind of...):

hoarder (a person who accumulates things and hides them away for future use)

Sense 3

Meaning:

An obnoxious and foolish and loquacious talker

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

babbler; chatterbox; chatterer; magpie; prater; spouter

Hypernyms ("magpie" is a kind of...):

speaker; talker; utterer; verbaliser; verbalizer (someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous))

 Context examples 

Scientists had thought dinosaur eggs were more like those of modern birds than modern reptiles, but this long hatch time is far more reminiscent of monitor lizard than magpie.

(Slow-cooking dinosaur eggs may have contributed to extinction, Wikinews)

Her friends repeated the pleasing phrase enthusiastically, and for several minutes she stood, like a jackdaw in the fable, enjoying her borrowed plumes, while the rest chattered like a party of magpies.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

In effect, we presently heard him uttering suppressed groans of the most dismal nature, as this magpie proceeding racked him in every joint; but while Peggotty's eyes were full of compassion for him, she said his generous impulse would do him good, and it was better not to check it.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

She had a wonderful way too, when listening to what was said to her, or when waiting for an answer to what she had said herself, of pausing with her head cunningly on one side, and one eye turned up like a magpie's.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Everyone was too busy with their own affairs to help her, and the little girls were only hindrances, for the dears fussed and chattered like so many magpies, making a great deal of confusion in their artless efforts to preserve the most perfect order.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

She also allowed her to roam about the great house, and examine the curious and pretty things stored away in the big wardrobes and the ancient chests, for Aunt March hoarded like a magpie.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)