fledge
Americanverb (used with object)
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to bring up (a young bird) until it is able to fly.
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to furnish with or as if with feathers or plumage.
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to provide (an arrow) with feathers.
verb (used without object)
adjective
verb
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(tr) to feed and care for (a young bird) until it is able to fly
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Also called: fletch. (tr) to fit (something, esp an arrow) with a feather or feathers
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(intr) (of a young bird) to grow feathers
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(tr) to cover or adorn with or as if with feathers
Other Word Forms
- fledgeless adjective
Etymology
Origin of fledge
1350–1400; Middle English flegge (fully-)fledged, Old English *flecge, as variant of -flycge; cognate with Old High German flucki, Middle Low German vlügge (> German flügge ); akin to fly 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Still, one reporter insisted on the superior knowledge of the fledging Commander Kane, “nothing had been left undone.”
From Literature
Australia was a British colony for more than 100 years and gained de facto independence in 1901, but has never become a fully fledged republic.
From Barron's
The remaining siblings — sisters Gizmo and Sunny — survived, and successfully fledged.
From Los Angeles Times
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said the draft document was not fully fledged, describing it instead as a "list of topics and options".
From BBC
Among the Facebook watchers excitement is building ahead of the expected fledging.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
