125 birthrate
bird flu n [U] infml another name for AVIAN FLU
bird·ie /'bɜːdi || 'bɜːrdi/ n 1 (used to or by children) a little bird 2 (in GOLF) a SCORE of one stroke less than PAR on a hole 3 AmE SHUTTLECOCK 4 watch the bir·die humor a phrase said by someone who is just about to take a photograph ➔ compare SAY (CHEESE)
bir·die² v [T] (in GOLF) to play (a hole) in one stroke under PAR
bird-lime /'bɜːdlaɪm || 'bɜːrd-/ also lime n [U] a sticky substance spread on branches to catch small birds
Bird-man of Alcatraz, the /ˌbɜːdmæn ɒv ˈælkətræz || ˌbɜːrd-/ a name given to Robert Stroud, a murderer who used his time in prison to learn about birds, especially the CANARY. In the early 1900s he was put in prison for killing a man in a fight. Then in 1916 he killed a prison GUARD and was ordered to spend the rest of his life in SOLITARY CONFINEMENT. He died in prison. A film The Bir·dman of Alcatraz was made in 1962 with the US actor Burt LANCASTER playing the part of Stroud.
bird of paradise n a brightly coloured bird of the New Guinea area
bird of 'passage n 1 a bird that flies from one country or area to another, according to the season 2 BrE infml a person who never stays in one place very long
bird of 'prey n a bird that kills other birds and small animals for food
Bird's /'bɜːdz || bɜːrdz/ trademark the BRAND NAME (=name used on the packet) of a range of puddings and CUSTARD POWDERS sold in the UK
bird-seed /'bɜːdsiːd || 'bɜːrd-/ n [U] a mixture of small seeds for feeding caged birds
Birds Eye trademark a company that produces various types of frozen foods, especially fish. Its products are advertised by Captain Birds Eye, a cheerful old sailor with white hair and a white beard.
bird's-eye 'view n [(of)] a view seen from above or from the sky: a marvellous bird's-eye view of the whole city
bird-shot /'bɜːdʃɒt || 'bɜːrdʃɑːt/ n [U] small-sized LEAD SHOT (=bullets), used especially for hunting ➔ see BUCKSHOT
bird-song /'bɜːdsɒŋ || 'bɜːrdsɔːŋ/ n [U] the musical noises made by birds
bird-,watcher n a person who watches wild birds in their natural surroundings, and tries to recognize different types
bi-ret-ta /bɪ'rɛtə/ n a square cap worn especially by Roman Catholic priests
bir-i-a-ni, biryani /ˌbɪrɪ'ɑːni/ n [U] a hot tasty Indian rice dish mixed with meat, fish, vegetables etc
Birkenstocks /'bɜːkənstɒks || 'bɜːrkənˌstɑːks/ trademark a type of leather SANDAL (=a shoe that is open at the toes and heel) with a wide, flat bottom, which is designed to be comfortable rather than fashionable. They are often thought of as being worn by people who want to protect the environment, who only eat natural food, and who want a simple life without too many possessions.
Bir-ming-ham /'bɜːmɪŋəm || 'bɜːrmɪŋhəm/ 1 a city in the West Midlands of England, the second largest city in the UK, known in the past as a dirty industrial city where cars were made, but now also known as a centre of art and classical music 2 a city in Alabama in the US. During the 1960s, there were many protests in Birmingham about the way that African-American people were treated, as part of the CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. Some of these protests were violent, such as the race RIOTS of 1963, and others were non-violent, such as the protests led by Martin Luther KING.
irmingham 'Bullring, the also the Bullring a shopping area in Birmingham that has both traditional market STALLS and very modern shops including Selfridges DEPARTMENT STORE which is famous for its FUTURISTIC design. The earlier Bullring SHOPPING CENTRE was built in the 1960s and many people thought it was ugly because of its grey CONCRETE buildings. The new Bullring was opened in 2003.
irmingham 'Six, the six Irishmen who were sent to prison in 1974 for putting IRA bombs in two Birmingham pubs, killing 21 people. They always said that they were not guilty, and they were let out of prison in 1991 after new
facts were discovered about the way the police had dealt with their case. ➔ see also BRIDGEWATER FOUR, GUILDFORD FOUR
Birn·nam Wood /ˌbɜːnæm 'wʊd || ˌbɜːrn-/ the wood near Birnam in Perthshire, Scotland. In Shakespeare's play Mac·beth, Macbeth is told that he will only be defeated when Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane. Later, his enemy's army comes through Birnam Wood and each soldier cuts a large branch to hide himself, so that when the army moves on it looks as if the wood is moving. Macbeth is defeated and killed.
bi·ro /'baɪərəʊ/ pl. biros BrE trademark a type of BALLPOINT: written with a biro/in biro
Birt, Lord John /bɜːrt || bɜːrt/ (1944-) a British businessman who worked for many years in television, and was the Director-General (=chief manager) of the BBC from 1992 to 2000. He became a member of the House of Lords in 2000, and his official title is Lord Birt of Liverpool. He has also been a adviser to the Prime Minister and chairman of a VENTURE CAPITAL company.
birth /bɜːθ || bɜːrθ/ n 1 [C;U] the act, time, or process of being born, of coming into the world out of the body of a female parent: the birth of a child | The father was present at the birth. | Last year there were more births than deaths. | The baby weighed eight pounds at birth. | She gave birth to a fine healthy baby. | (fig.) the birth of a new nation/political party ➔ compare DEATH; see also DATE OF BIRTH 2 [U] family origin: of noble birth | She is French by birth.
'birth cer,tificate n an official document that shows when and where you were born, and gives the names of your parents
'birth con,trol n [U] the practice of limiting, by any of various methods, the number of children born; CONTRACEPTION: to practise birth control | a birth control clinic
birth-day /'bɜːθdeɪ || 'bɜːr-/ n 1 a day which is an exact year or number of years after one was born: my 21st birthday | a birthday party | Happy birthday to you! ➔ compare ANNIVERSARY
**CULTURAL NOTE** Most people in the US and the UK celebrate their birthdays, and their friends and family usually give them presents and birthday cards (=a folded piece of card with a picture on the front and a message inside). Young children often have a birthday party. Sometimes this party is held in a special place such as an indoor play area, or children are taken to a special event such as swimming or the cinema. Other children have parties at home, and the house is decorated with BALLOONS and children play games such as MUSICAL CHAIRS. In the US, children traditionally eat cake and ICE CREAM at a party, and in the UK they eat JELLY and ice cream. Both children and adults often have a special birthday cake with small CANDLES on it. Their friends and family sing them a song called 'Happy Birthday to You', and then the person whose birthday it is blows out all the candles. People often celebrate with a big party for special ages such as 18 and 21, and then 30, 40, 50, 60 etc ➔ see Cultural Note at CELEBRATION, WISH
2 in one's 'birthday suit infml humor having no clothes on; NAKED
'birthday Honours, the n [P] special honours given to a number of British people by the Queen each year on her birthday, as a reward for their achievements or good work ➔ see also NEW YEAR'S HONOURS
birth-ing /'bɜːθɪŋ || 'bɜːrθ-/ adj [A] birthing room/chair/pool a special room, chair, or pool used by a woman when she is giving birth to a baby
birth-mark /'bɜːθmɑːk || 'bɜːrθmɑːrk/ n a usually red or brown mark on the skin at birth
'birth pa-rent n the mother who actually gave birth to you, or your natural father, used in comparison with other sorts of parents, such as ADOPTIVE, SURROGATE, FOSTER etc
birth-place /'bɜːθpleɪs || 'bɜːrθ-/ n [C usually sing.] the place where someone was born: Stratford-upon-Avon was Shakespeare's birthplace. | (fig.) Cooperstown, New York, is said to be the birthplace of baseball.
birth-rate /'bɜːθreɪt || 'bɜːrθ-/ n the number of births for