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Definition of scarlet macaw
scarlet macaw
Plural:scarlet macaws
scarlet macaw Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
6
Tier
2
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A large, long-tailed parrot (Ara macao) noted for its brilliant red, yellow, and blue plumage, native to the humid evergreen forests of tropical Central and South America.
Example
"A pair of scarlet macaws flew loudly over the dense canopy of the Amazon rainforest."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for scarlet macaw• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The term combines 'scarlet', derived from the Old French 'escarlate' (originally a rich cloth, later synonymous with its typical bright red dye), and 'macaw', from the Portuguese 'macau', likely originating from the indigenous Tupi language of South America.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Scarlet macaw. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/scarlet macaw