birdcage
gb/bˈɚdkeɪd͡ʒ/ us/bˈɚdkeɪd͡ʒ/
A2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
cage for keeping a bird
A cage where you keep a pet bird.
Usage pattern:
a birdcage; put/keep [a bird] in [a birdcage]
Common mistake:
Often written as two words (*bird cage*), but the usual spelling is one word: *birdcage*.
Synonyms
cage (More general; not specifically for birds.)
|
aviary (Usually much larger and often walk-in.)
Antonyms
open air (Not confined; the opposite of being kept in a cage.)
Collocations
clean the birdcage
|hang a birdcage
|a wire birdcage
|a metal birdcage
|an empty birdcage
|a large birdcage
|open the birdcage door
|put a cover over the birdcage
|a birdcage with perches
|keep a canary in a birdcage
Themes
daily_life
|pets
|home
Examples
- She cleaned the birdcage and refilled the water dish.
- The parakeet hopped from perch to perch inside the birdcage.
- They hung a birdcage near the window so the bird could get sunlight.
Learner examples
- The bird is in the birdcage.
- I clean the birdcage every week.
Noun
informal
B2
entity
2
a place that feels confining
A place or life that feels like it limits you.
Usage pattern:
feel like/in [a] birdcage; live/work in [a] birdcage
Common mistake:
This meaning is metaphorical; it does not refer to an actual cage for a bird.
Synonyms
prison (Stronger; suggests punishment or being forcibly kept.)
|
trap (Emphasizes difficulty of getting out.)
|
cage (More general metaphor for confinement.)
Antonyms
freedom (The state of not being confined or restricted.)
|
open space (A place that feels unconfined and unrestricted.)
Collocations
feel like a birdcage
|a birdcage of rules
|a birdcage of a job
|a birdcage of an apartment
|escape the birdcage
Themes
emotions
|work
|lifestyle
Examples
- After years in the same job, he said the office felt like a birdcage.
- She moved to the countryside because city life felt like a birdcage to her.
- With so many rules, the school can feel like a birdcage sometimes.
Learner examples
- This job feels like a birdcage.
- I want to leave this birdcage and travel.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
3
grid-like scaffold structure
A kind of scaffolding with a grid of poles.
Usage pattern:
a birdcage (scaffold); erect/build a birdcage; work from a birdcage
Synonyms
scaffold (General term; not specifically the grid-style type.)
Collocations
birdcage scaffold
|birdcage scaffolding
|erect a birdcage
|a birdcage platform
|a birdcage structure
|temporary birdcage
Themes
construction
|engineering
Examples
- The crew erected a birdcage to provide a working platform for the ceiling installation.
- Because the area was wide, a birdcage scaffold was safer than a narrow tower.
- Inspectors checked the birdcage before anyone stepped onto the platform.
Learner examples
- The workers built a birdcage scaffold.
- They checked the birdcage before working.
Noun
slang
B2
entity
4
a person’s ribcage
Your ribs (your ribcage).
Usage pattern:
take a hit to the birdcage; protect the birdcage
Common mistake:
This is informal slang; in general writing, *ribcage* is more usual.
Synonyms
ribcage (Standard, neutral term.)
|
ribs (Less precise; refers to the bones rather than the whole structure.)
Collocations
hit to the birdcage
|shot to the birdcage
|protect the birdcage
|pain in the birdcage
Themes
health
|sports
Examples
- He took an elbow to the birdcage and had to come out of the game.
- The trainer checked him for pain around the birdcage.
- She wore extra padding to protect her birdcage during sparring.
Learner examples
- He has pain in his birdcage.
- She hit him in the birdcage.
Grammar
Dictionary form
birdcage
IPA
GB/bˈɚdkeɪd͡ʒ/
US/bˈɚdkeɪd͡ʒ/
Syllables & stress
bird - cage (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (bird)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: birdcage
- Plural: birdcages
Word family
Expressions
birdcage scaffolding
1/bˈɚdkeɪd͡ʒ skˈæfəldɪŋ/
fixed phrase
technical
grid scaffold supporting a platform
Scaffolding built in a grid to hold a platform.
Examples
- They installed birdcage scaffolding to access the entire ceiling safely.
- Birdcage scaffolding is often used indoors when the working area is large.
- The site manager ordered extra bracing for the birdcage scaffolding.
birdcage veil
1/bˈɚdkeɪd͡ʒ vˈeɪl/
fixed phrase
short net veil for face
A small net veil that covers part of your face.
Examples
- She wore a birdcage veil with a small fascinator.
- The bride chose a birdcage veil for a vintage look.
- In the 1950s, a birdcage veil was a popular style for formal events.