perch

1 of 3

noun (1)

1
: a bar or peg on which something is hung
2
a
: a roost for a bird
b
: a resting place or vantage point : seat
c
: a prominent position
his new perch as president
3
chiefly British : rod sense 2

perch

2 of 3

verb

perched; perching; perches

intransitive verb

: to alight, settle, or rest on a perch, a height, or a precarious spot

transitive verb

: to place on a perch, a height, or a precarious spot

perch

3 of 3

noun (2)

plural perch or perches
1
a
: a small European freshwater bony fish (Perca fluviatilis of the family Percidae, the perch family)
2
: any of numerous bony fishes (as of the families Percidae, Centrarchidae, and Serranidae)

Illustration of perch

Illustration of perch
  • 3perch 1a

Examples of perch in a Sentence

Verb pigeons perching on the roof perched the baby in a basket
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The birds cling to vertical surfaces such as cave walls, cliff faces and, most often, chimneys rather than perching like most other birds. Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 5 June 2024 Or sip a local brew at Long Trail Brewery, perched on the banks of the Ottauquechee. Christine Chitnis, Travel + Leisure, 4 June 2024 Last year, with financial help from a real estate developer, it was restored beyond its former glory, with the addition of cats and a dog perched on the windows. Anna Kodé, New York Times, 31 May 2024 At a Costco in Astoria, Queens, perched in a personal-care aisle among bulk packs of Irish Spring soap and tubs of Aveeno lotion, was a single jar of Estée Lauder’s La Mer moisturizer. Phil Wahba, Fortune, 28 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for perch 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'perch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English perche, from Anglo-French, from Latin pertica pole

Noun (2)

Middle English perche, from Anglo-French, from Latin perca, from Greek perkē; akin to Old High German faro colored, Latin porcus, a spiny fish

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of perch was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near perch

Cite this Entry

“Perch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perch. Accessed 11 Jun. 2024.

Kids Definition

perch

1 of 3 noun
1
: a roost for a bird
2
: a raised seat or position

perch

2 of 3 verb
1
: to place on a perch
2
: to land, settle, or rest on or as if on a perch

perch

3 of 3 noun
plural perch or perches
1
: a common North American freshwater fish that is yellowish with dark green vertical stripes and is a popular food and sport fish

called also yellow perch

2
: any of various fishes related to or resembling the perch
Etymology

Noun

Middle English perche "a peg on which something is hung," from early French perche (same meaning), from Latin pertica "pole"

Noun

Middle English perche "a kind of fish," from early French perche (same meaning), from Latin perca (same meaning), from Greek perkē "perch (fish)"

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