Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A widespread Eurasian finch (Carduelis chloris) having green and yellow plumage.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A European green grosbeak, Coccothraustes or Ligurinus chloris: so called from its color. Also called green linnet, green grosbeak, greenbird, green olf, and greeny.—2. See green finch , under finch.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Zoöl.) A European finch (Ligurinus chloris); -- called also green bird, green linnet, green grosbeak, green olf, greeny, and peasweep.
  • noun The Texas sparrow (Embernagra rufivirgata), in which the general color is olive green, with four rufous stripes on the head.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Any of five distinct species of bird:

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

green +‎ finch

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Examples

  • Then, too, the greenfinch is overtaken by happy languor, and falters in her flight, smitten with the April madness.

    The Spring of Joy: A Little Book of Healing 1917

  • The coldest December on record had driven them to warmer climes, and during the day I managed to miss goldfinch, greenfinch, dunnock and song thrush as well.

    Birdwatch: Black redstart 2011

  • The greenfinch is among common garden birds that have taken their leave of suburbia this winter.

    Why Britain's garden birds are staying in the country 2012

  • A greenfinch is singing on the next street over from mine, a street I never go down but that I can now hear.

    A Year on the Wing TIM DEE 2009

  • I am a clumsy beginner and in the hut first a greenfinch escapes from my grip, and then a sedge warbler, both hurtling toward the windows.

    A Year on the Wing TIM DEE 2009

  • Then there was a little greenfinch, just fledged, fluttering along the ground, and it seemed quite possible to catch it, till it managed to flutter under the blackberry bush.

    Adam Bede 2004

  • His note suggested to me the shrill chirrup of a sparrow, and his appearance that of a greenfinch.

    First footsteps in East Africa 2003

  • The greenfinch, so called from the colour of its belly, is as large as a lark; it lays four or five eggs, builds its nest out of the plant called comfrey, pulling it up by the roots, and makes an under-mattress to lie on of hair and wool.

    The History of Animals 2002

  • The little blue quills began to tell of coming feathers, his vigorous chirpings betokened plenty of vocal power, and in due time he grew into a young greenfinch of the most irrepressible and enterprising character.

    Wild Nature Won By Kindness Elizabeth Brightwen

  • The greenfinch is soon attracted by hemp seed, and all the smaller birds by canary seed.

    Wild Nature Won By Kindness Elizabeth Brightwen

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