Birthday Meaning
/ˈbɜːθ.deɪ/Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounThe anniversary of the day on which someone is born.
nounThe anniversary of the day on which something is created.
Sentence Examples
Today is June 18th and it is Muiriel's birthday!
I would like to give him a present for his birthday.
What can I get him for a birthday present?
CEFR Practice Quiz
For her tenth ____, my mother baked a chocolate cake with candles.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I am going to have a big party for my eighteenth ____ this Saturday.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English birthdai, birtheday, from Old English ġebyrddæġ (“birthday”), influenced by Old Norse burðr, equivalent to birth + day. Compare Saterland Frisian Gebuursdai (“birthday”), Dutch geboortedag (“birthday”), Low German Geboortsdag (“birthday”), German Geburtstag (“birthday”), Norwegian bursdag, gebursdag (“birthday”). Eclipsed non-native Middle English nativitee (“birth, nativity, birthday”), from Old French nativité, nativited, from Latin nātīvitas.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Oliver Twist's ninth birthday found him a pale thin child, somewhat diminutive in stature, and decidedly small in circumference."
— 1838, Boz [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], chapter 2, in Oliver Twist; […], volume (please specify |volume=I, II, or III), London: Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC:
"The King's Birthday, which occurred yesterday, will be officially observed to-day, and the customary list of honours conferred on the occasion is published."
— 1921 June 4, “Birthday Honours — Companions of Honour”, in The Times:
Explore More A1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
For her tenth ____, my mother baked a chocolate cake with candles.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I am going to have a big party for my eighteenth ____ this Saturday.