bird of paradise
noun
1
- (pl. birds of paradise) a tropical Australasian bird, the male of which is noted for the beauty and brilliance of its plumage and its spectacular courtship display. Most kinds are found in New Guinea, where their feathers are used in ornamental dress.风鸟, 极乐鸟。
- [ORIGIN: early 17th cent.: so named because when the skins were first brought back to Spain （16th cent.） their beauty suggested they were from paradise.]
1.1
- Family Paradisaeidae: numerous genera.风鸟科：众多属。
2
- （亦作bird of paradise flower）a southern African plant related to the banana, which bears a showy irregular flower with a long projecting tongue极乐鸟花。
- ORIGIN: late 19th cent.: named from the protrusion of flowers from a green spathe, resembling a bird of paradise in flight.
2.1
- Genus Strelitzia, family Strelitziaceae: several species, in particular S. regina, with orange and dark blue flowers.鹤望兰属, 鹤望兰（或旅人焦）科：数种, 尤指鹤望兰。