Word Finder

BIRD

b-i-r-d

Animal
Noun
Basic Level
4 Letters

Quick Definition

BIRD is a feathered, winged animal. Common and versatile, it's worth 7 points in Scrabble - a solid play for clearing tiles!

Scrabble Points

7

Points in Scrabble

Base tile values • No multipliers applied

Definition & Meaning

BIRD refers to any warm-blooded vertebrate of the class Aves, characterized by feathers, wings, beaks, and typically the ability to fly. From tiny hummingbirds to mighty eagles, birds are found on every continent and in virtually every habitat on Earth.

Primary Meanings:

  • Feathered animal: Any member of class Aves
  • Slang - person: British slang for a young woman
  • Jazz slang: Charlie "Bird" Parker reference
  • Prison slang: Time served ("doing bird")
  • Sports: Badminton shuttlecock ("birdie")
  • Golf: One under par (birdie)

Etymology & Origin

BIRD has an unusual etymology. In Old English, the word was "brid" meaning "young bird" or "chick." The modern spelling with the R and I reversed (metathesis) became standard around the 15th century. The general word for bird in Old English was "fugol" (related to "fowl").

Word Evolution

Old English"Brid" (young bird, nestling)
1200s"Brid/bird" used interchangeably
1400s"Bird" spelling becomes standard
1500sReplaces "fowl" as general term
1920sJazz era: "Bird" nickname emerges

Types of BIRDS

Common Birds

🦅

Eagle

Bird of prey

🦜

Parrot

Tropical talker

🦉

Owl

Night hunter

Bird Characteristics

Feathers

Unique to birds

Hollow bones

Light for flight

Beaks

No teeth

Did You Know?

Birds are the only living direct descendants of dinosaurs!

The word BIRD unusually changed from "brid" - one of few English words where letters switched places

BIRD's B (3pts) and D (2pts) make it worth more than most common 4-letter words

Usage Examples

"BIRD is my go-to word for clearing B and D tiles - simple but effective!"

"I love extending BIRD to BIRDS or BIRDIE - both give great scores."

In context: "The early bird catches the worm."

Word game tip: "BIRD works great for parallel plays - BI, IR, and RD are all valid 2-letter words!"

Similar Words

Words by Point Value

Similar length and difficulty words

Letter Analysis

Letter Distribution

B (3 pts)
1x 💪
I (1 pts)
1x
R (1 pts)
1x
D (2 pts)
1x ✓

Total base points: 7 (Scrabble)

Vowels: 1 | Consonants: 3

Letter Patterns

Pattern:C-V-C-C
High-value tiles:B (3pts), D (2pts)
Common tiles:I, R (1pt each)

Strategic Value

B-D clearing
Common word

BIRD efficiently clears both B and D tiles while being universally recognized. Perfect for maintaining rack balance.

Word Game Strategy

Maximizing BIRD Points

1

Parallel Play Master

BIRD creates valid 2-letter words: BI, IR, RD. Perfect for high-scoring parallel plays!

2

Extension Friendly

BIRD → BIRDS (plural), BIRDIE (golf term), BIRDED, BIRDING. Multiple paths to longer words.

3

Compound Potential

Look for BIRDMAN, BIRDBATH, SONGBIRD, BLUEBIRD - all valid in extended dictionaries.

Anagrams of BIRD

BIRD has one valid anagram in Scrabble:

DRIB

A small amount, a drop

7 points

Shorter words from BIRD letters:

BID (6pts)
RIB (5pts)
RID (4pts)
BI (4pts)
ID (3pts)

Master This Word

Practice unscrambling letters to find more high-scoring words like BIRD