[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/magpie/)

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# magpie

noun (a magpie, magpies)

«magpie» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A black-and-white bird with a long tail and a loud chattering call, related to crows. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/magpie/#m1)
2. (informal) A person who likes to collect small shiny or odd things. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/magpie/#m2)

### In the lessons

In science, magpies are clever birds of the crow family; in Europe the magpie is black and white with blue-green shine, and the Australian magpie is a different bird known for swooping on people near its nest in spring — wear a hat and walk away calmly. In stories and old rhymes, magpies steal shiny things, though studies show they do not really love shiny objects. Phrases: «One for sorrow, two for joy» (a counting rhyme).

### Examples

- A magpie hopped across the lawn. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/magpie/#x1)
- "One for sorrow, two for joy," we chanted when we saw the magpies. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/magpie/#x2)
- In spring, Australian magpies swoop at cyclists. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/magpie/#x3)
- Magpies are very clever birds. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/magpie/#x4)
- The magpie built a big messy nest in the tree. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/magpie/#x5)
- Grandma is a magpie who collects buttons. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/magpie/#x6)
- The magpie's tail is long and shiny. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/magpie/#x7)
- Magpies eat insects, seeds and even scraps. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/magpie/#x8)
- Then the prince started off with the lame magpie. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/magpie/#x9)

### Note

Countable. Myth: magpies do not really steal shiny things more than other things. The magpie rhyme is a superstition, not a true way to tell the future.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «magpie» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/magpie/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«magpie» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/magpie.html) on Mova free.