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Definition of woodpecker

woodpecker

/ˈwʊdˌpɛk.ɚ/
wood · peck · er
Plural:woodpeckers
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woodpecker Lexical Profile

woodpecker Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of numerous birds of the family Picidae, found nearly worldwide (except in Australasia, Madagascar, and polar regions), characterized by a strong, pointed bill used for drilling into trees to extract insects, and stiff tail feathers that provide support against tree trunks.

Example

"The rhythmic drumming of a woodpecker echoed through the pine forest as it excavated a nesting cavity in a dead tree."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for woodpecker

• Nearby Words

woodlouse
woodman
woodmouse
woodpecker
woodpigeon
woodpile
woodprint

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from Middle English 'wode' (wood) and 'pecker' (one who pecks), literally describing the bird's characteristic behavior of striking tree trunks with its bill. First recorded in English around the 1520s.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Woodpecker. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/woodpecker
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