ostrich
ostrich Lexical Profile
ostrich Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A large, swift-running flightless bird (Struthio camelus) native to Africa, characterized by a long bare neck, long legs, and two toes on each foot, making it the largest living bird species.
"During our safari on the savanna, we watched a massive ostrich sprinting across the dry plains at an incredible speed."
A person who refuses to face reality or acknowledge an uncomfortable truth, derived from the popular myth that ostriches bury their heads in the sand when threatened.
"When it comes to his mounting financial problems, he acts like an ostrich and simply ignores the letters from the bank."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old French 'ostrusce', via Latin 'avis struthio' (ostrich bird), ultimately from Greek 'strouthokamēlos', combining 'strouthos' (sparrow) and 'kamēlos' (camel).