(n.) A web-footed bird, of the genus Diomedea, of which there are several species. They are the largest of sea birds, capable of long-continued flight, and are often seen at great distances from the land. They are found chiefly in the southern hemisphere.
Example Sentences:
(1) But the Ukip albatross grows bigger by the year and may destroy his career.
(2) On her right shoulder is an albatross: "She wanted to come back as one when she died."
(3) These patients continue to haunt the surgeon, and the syndrome has been named the "albatross" syndrome.
(4) There is now provisional BBC Trust approval for Project Canvas , the TV-on-demand joint venture that includes ITV, the BBC and BT, but Norman may be left with the task of working out what to do with ITV's digital albatross Friends Reunited, if the Competition Commission blocks its proposed £25m sale .
(5) Now that shopping habits have changed with the arrival of online grocers and the popularity of buying little and often from small local shops, Tesco’s collection of large stores seems more like an albatross around its neck.
(6) So far, the president has been more fatuous than fascistic, though he belatedly realized what an albatross the bill had become.
(7) While newer procedures in ulcer surgery may alter the incidence of standard postgastrectomy complications it will not alter the incidence of the albatross syndrome, which is more directly related to the selection of the patient rather than the selection of the surgeon or surgical procedure.
(8) "Does social conservatism continue to be a albatross around the neck of the party?"
(9) Liberal Democrat leader Clegg, who has been variously branded a "jelly", "condom", "lapdog" and "yellow albatross" by Johnson, suggested the mayor should be clearer about his true intentions.
(10) 'House Of Cards', which recalled Fleetwood Mac's 'Albatross'.
(11) So next time you buy bottled water, remember the baby albatross.
(12) Lead poisoning was diagnosed in 10 of the droop-winged albatrosses and was one of the causes of morbidity.
(13) But albatrosses have adapted to cope with salty food and water.
(14) Human activity (lead poisoning and vehicular trauma) caused mortality at Midway Atoll and represented additive mortality for pre-fledgling albatrosses.
(15) Although she came to see The Golden Notebook as her "albatross", she had to concede that the novel, written during a period of great personal and social upheaval, had a life and energy of its own.
(16) There’s no question it will be an albatross should he win the nomination.
(17) His presence either indicates a certain softening of attitude towards the prize on the part of Blur's frontman, or else it's going to be short-lived: the last time he turned up on the Mercury shortlist, for Gorillaz's eponymous 2001 debut album, Albarn demanded the nomination be withdrawn, claiming that winning the award would be "like carrying a dead albatross around your neck for eternity".
(18) Over 100 species of sea birds are known to have ingested plastics, and according to a study published last month around 95% of fulmar, a seabird related to albatrosses, have been found to have potentially hazardous plastics in their stomachs.
(19) Hosts of brightly plumed birds – "flamingos and frigate-birds, falcons and deep-water albatross" – have flocked into the town, and when the narrator leans against a pillar box, trying to straighten his flying suit, an eagle "guarding these never-to-be-collected letters snaps at my hands, as if she has forgotten who I am and is curious to inspect this solitary pilot who has casually stepped off the wind into these deserted streets".
(20) Epizootic mortality occurred in Laysan albatross (Diomedea immutabilis) fledgings at Midway Atoll in 1983.
Birdie
Definition:
(n.) A pretty or dear little bird; -- a pet name.
Example Sentences:
(1) Westwood came within an inch of clawing back a shot with a firm, brave putt, but went to the 16th having to birdie his way to the clubhouse to pull off a minor miracle.
(2) As Mickelson, four holes ahead, birdied to draw level with the Australian, Westwood's calm was further disturbed.
(3) He failed to recover from a disappointing opening eight holes and on the par-five 9th Woods slightly overshot the green with his second shot, sending his chip from the first cut well left of the pin.He sunk the remaining putt to card his first birdie of the day but then pulled his tee shot at the 10th well left and played the back nine one over par, starting with two bogeys before clawing back to finish tied for sixth place.
(4) One hole up ahead, Els was confidently rolling in a 15ft birdie putt to finish with an aggregate of 273, seven under par.
(5) The sole exception was the Chevron World Challenge at the tail end of last year, when he birdied the final two holes to hold off Zach Johnson for victory.
(6) "The high point was probably holing that long putt for birdie on the 16th today, with all the crowd around the green.
(7) The greater joy was simultaneously spreading across the final green, however, as Mickelson stroked an ice-cool birdie for three under.
(8) Can no one conga any more or do The Birdie Song dance?
(9) Which makes them the cute little birdy version of Fleetwood Mac.
(10) A drive of 379 yards down the 18th gave Watson the chance of another birdie, but this time his approach finished 25 feet from the hole and the left-hander had to settle for par.
(11) Cabrera was to battle back thanks to a 20ft birdie putt on the 16th that left a three-way tie for the lead.
(12) On the 2nd his birdie attempt stopped well short and another three-putt followed on the 4th.
(13) "But I felt the way I've played this week, I definitely have put myself in a lot of good positions to make birdies, and I probably haven't taken as many as I wanted to.
(14) However, the former Irish Open champion – he was still an amateur when he won the title in 2009 – found a good lie in the rough and powered a wedge over the trees to 11 feet, from where he holed for a birdie to make certain of the first prize of $1,570,000.
(15) Take a bow, Flappy Cat: Pirate , Flappy Puppy and Flap Copter Flap , not to mention Slappy Shark – Crazy Obstacle Dodge , Floppy Penguin Birdie , Scrappy Fish , Flashy Fish and Desert Bird .
(16) Otherwise, you can do what the likes of Jessie J and Birdy did and just post your stuff to YouTube, hoping it’s good enough for someone to notice.
(17) And when he produced a spectacular recovery following a wayward tee shot on the 10th, the resulting tap-in birdie gave the 28-year-old a two-shot lead over the chasing pack.
(18) Scott had missed birdie chance after birdie chance all afternoon.
(19) Watson then recorded his fourth birdie in six holes on the 13th to close within a shot and Furyk did likewise with a birdie on the 11th, only to promptly bogey the next after chipping from one side of the green off the other.
(20) Scott's fortune was to change at the next par three, where he holed an uphill 12-footer for birdie.