What does "merle" mean?
The Eurasian blackbird, Turdus merula.
Merle
/mɝl/ name, noun
name, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The Eurasian blackbird, Turdus merula.
- Grammar: merle is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: blackbird, common blackbird, dappled pattern, dilute pattern.
- Useful contrasts: solid color, unicolored, uniform coloration.
- Usage evidence: Merle Haggard is a name out of a morality play. And that's the kind of songs he sings.
How to use "merle"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "merle" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "merle" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "merle" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "merle" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "merle" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "blackbird" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "merle", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The Eurasian blackbird, Turdus merula.
- 2 A type of mottled coloration on dogs. countable, uncountable
- 3 common black European thrush wordnet
- 4 Any blackbird.
- 5 A dog having this coloration. countable, uncountable
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname from French of French origin.
- 2 A female given name from English.
"Her name was Merle, and to her name she always said she owed the fact that Gilbert Vanborough ever looked at her."
- 3 A male given name transferred from the surname.
"Merle Haggard is a name out of a morality play. And that's the kind of songs he sings."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Merle Haggard is a name out of a morality play. And that's the kind of songs he sings."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "merle"?
Common synonyms include: blackbird, common blackbird, dappled pattern, dilute pattern, european blackbird, merl.
How do you use "merle" in a sentence?
Merle Haggard is a name out of a morality play. And that's the kind of songs he sings.
How do you pronounce "merle"?
Pronounced /mɝl/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English merle, from Old French merle (French merle), from Latin merula (“blackbird”) (whence the directly borrowed Middle English merule, and compare the taxonomic name Turdus merula), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂mes- (“black, blackbird”). Compare Breton moualch (“ouzel”), Welsh mwyalch (“blackbird, thrush”). Distantly related to the synonymous ouzel.
Etymology 2
From French Merle.
Etymology 3
English 19th-century bird name from merle (“blackbird”), possibly also a variant of Muriel, Merrill, etc.