owl

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US /aʊl/ 
UK /aʊl/ 

Oxford Essential Dictionary

owl

 noun
a bird that flies at night and eats small animals

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

owl

owl /aʊl/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: ule]
a bird with large eyes that hunts at night

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

owl

owl [owl owls]   [aʊl]    [aʊl]  noun
a bird of prey (= a bird that kills other creatures for food) with large round eyes, that hunts at night. Owls are traditionally thought to be wise
An owl hooted nearby.
see also  barn owl, night owl, tawny owl  
Word Origin:
Old English ūle, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch uil and German Eule, from a base imitative of the bird's call.  
Example Bank:
• I was a night owl when I was younger, but these days I'd rather go to bed early.

• Owls prey on small rodents.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

owl / aʊl / noun [ C ]

owl

B2 a bird with a flat face and large eyes that hunts small mammals at night ( also night owl ) a person who likes to stay up late at night

© Cambridge University Press 2013

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

owl

/aʊl/
(owls)

An owl is a bird with a flat face, large eyes, and a small sharp beak. Most owls obtain their food by hunting small animals at night.

N-COUNT

see also night owl

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

owl

owl /ˈawəl/ noun, pl owls [count] : a bird that usually hunts at night and that has a large head and eyes, a powerful hooked beak, and strong claws