mallard — a wild duck with a dark green head and white collar around the neck (male), commonly found in ponds and lakes
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a wild duck with a dark green head and white collar around the neck (male), commonly found in ponds and lakes
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈmælərd/
Example Sentences
- The mallard thought he was so handsome that he spent all day admiring his reflection in the water.
- Every spring, mallards return to the same pond to nest and raise their young.
- The park ranger counted over fifty mallards during the annual bird survey.
mallard
NOUN[/ˈmælərd/]
a wild duck with a dark green head and white collar around the neck (male), commonly found in ponds and lakes
The wild mallard, with its bright green head, stood out clearly among the ordinary white ducks.
MALL(shopping mall) + LARD(fat) — sneaking into the food MALL and eating junk food made it a heavy, LARD-filled mallard.
Hearing the sad, emotional ballad, the green-headed mallard shed a single tear.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from 14th-century Old French 'malart', which is related to 'masle' (modern French 'male'), meaning 'male'. Originally denoting only the male duck, the term has evolved to refer to the entire mallard duck species.
Breakdown
Old French 'masle' (male) + -ard (augmentative or characterizing suffix) = 'malart', referring to a male duck, later generalized to the species name 'mallard'.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The mallard thought he was so handsome that he spent all day admiring his reflection in the water.”
“Every spring, mallards return to the same pond to nest and raise their young.”
“The park ranger counted over fifty mallards during the annual bird survey.”
“A confused mallard joined a group of tourists, thinking they were throwing bread crumbs when they were actually taking photos.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.