What does "thrush" mean?
Any of numerous species of songbirds of the cosmopolitan family Turdidae, such as the song thrush, mistle thrush, bluebird, and American robin.
Thrush
/θɹʌʃ/ name, noun, slang
name, noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Any of numerous species of songbirds of the cosmopolitan family Turdidae, such as the song thrush, mistle thrush, bluebird, and American robin.
- Grammar: thrush is listed as name, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: acute articular rheumatism, african lethargy, ague, alkali disease.
- Useful contrasts: health, wellness.
- Usage evidence: The thrush sings each song twice over.
How to use "thrush"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "thrush" 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 "thrush" 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 "thrush" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "thrush" 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 "thrush" is acting as name, noun, slang 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 "acute articular rheumatism" 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.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "thrush", 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 Any of numerous species of songbirds of the cosmopolitan family Turdidae, such as the song thrush, mistle thrush, bluebird, and American robin.
"I felt comforted by the song of the redbreast, and I thought I felt less lonely and deserted as long as I heard the merry notes of the thrush."
- 2 A fungal infection caused by species of genus Candida, affecting the mouth or vagina; candidiasis.
"Cervical cancer and recurrent vaginal thrush are both strongly linked to the presence of HIV in women."
- 3 songbirds characteristically having brownish upper plumage with a spotted breast wordnet
- 4 A female singer. US, colloquial
- 5 a woman who sings popular songs wordnet
Show 1 more definition
- 6 candidiasis of the oral cavity; seen mostly in infants or debilitated adults wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname transferred from the nickname.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The thrush sings each song twice over."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "thrush"?
Common synonyms include: acute articular rheumatism, african lethargy, ague, alkali disease, amebiasis, amebic dysentery.
How do you use "thrush" in a sentence?
The thrush sings each song twice over.
How do you pronounce "thrush"?
Pronounced /θɹʌʃ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English thrusche, þrusch, þresche, from a combination of Old English þrysċe (from Proto-Germanic *þruskijǭ, a diminutive of Proto-Germanic *þruskō) and Old English þræsċe (from Proto-Germanic *þrauskǭ and/or *þrastuz); all from Proto-Indo-European *trosdos (“thrush”). Cognate with German Drossel, Old Norse þrǫstr, Latin turdus, Lithuanian strazdas (“thrush”), Middle Irish truid, Welsh drudwy (“starling”), Old Church Slavonic дрозгъ (drozgŭ), Russian дрозд (drozd).
Etymology 2
Uncertain, though likely not related to the "bird" sense of Etymology 1; perhaps compare Icelandic þröstur, Danish torsk, Norwegian trøske. Perhaps also related to Old French fourchette (“frog of a horse's hoof”).
Etymology 3
English surname from the noun thrush.