fledge

C2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /flɛdʒ/ UK /flɛdʒ/ See IPA manual

Freq #161416

Meanings

1

verb
of a young bird, to develop the feathers needed for flight or become able to fly

Most chicks fledge about five weeks after hatching.
2

verb
to raise and care for a young bird until it can fly independently

The pair may fledge three chicks in a successful season.
3

verb
to fit an arrow with feathers or vanes that stabilize its flight

The bowyer used matching feathers to fledge each arrow.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · of a young bird, to develop... grow featherstake flight

2 verb · to raise and care for a... rear raise

3 verb · to fit an arrow with... fletchfeather

Word family

Forms fledgedunfledged

Derived forms fledglingfledgelessfull-fledgedunfledged

Related forms fletchfletcherfeather flight

Etymology

From Middle English flegge or flygge and an unattested Old English flycge, 'able to fly,' from a Germanic adjective related to fly. English developed verbs for acquiring flight feathers, rearing a bird to that stage, and furnishing an arrow with feathers; fledgling and full-fledged preserve the same family.

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# fledge

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /flɛdʒ/
**IPA (UK):** /flɛdʒ/
**Frequency rank:** 161416

## Meanings
1. of a young bird, to develop the feathers needed for flight or become able to fly
2. to raise and care for a young bird until it can fly independently
3. to fit an arrow with feathers or vanes that stabilize its flight

## Examples
- Most chicks fledge about five weeks after hatching.
- The pair may fledge three chicks in a successful season.
- The bowyer used matching feathers to fledge each arrow.

## Synonyms
- grow feathers
- rear
- raise
- fletch
- feather

## Derived Forms
- fledgling
- fledgeless
- full-fledged
- unfledged

## Related Forms
- fletch
- fletcher
- feather
- flight

## Etymology
From Middle English flegge or flygge and an unattested Old English flycge, 'able to fly,' from a Germanic adjective related to fly. English developed verbs for acquiring flight feathers, rearing a bird to that stage, and furnishing an arrow with feathers; fledgling and full-fledged preserve the same family.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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