wren

[ren] /rɛn/
noun
1.
any of numerous small, active songbirds of the family Troglodytidae, especially Troglodytes troglodytes, of the Northern Hemisphere, having dark-brown plumage barred with black and a short, upright tail.
Compare house wren, marsh wren, rock wren, winter wren.
2.
any of various similar, unrelated birds, especially any of several Old World warblers.
Origin
before 900; Middle English wrenn(e), Old English wrenna, obscurely akin to Old High German wrendilo, Old Norse rindill

Wren

[ren] /rɛn/
noun
1.
Sir Christopher, 1632–1723, English architect.
2.
Percival Christopher, 1885–1941, English novelist.

Wren

[ren] /rɛn/
noun, (sometimes lowercase) Chiefly British Informal.
1.
a member of the Wrens.
Origin
1915-20
Examples from the web for wren
  • wren also studied and improved the microscope and telescope at this time.
British Dictionary definitions for wren

wren

/rɛn/
noun
1.
any small brown passerine songbird of the chiefly American family Troglodytidae, esp Troglodytes troglodytes (wren in Britain, winter wren in the US and Canada). They have a slender bill and feed on insects
2.
any of various similar birds of the families Muscicapidae (Australian warblers), Xenicidae (New Zealand wrens), etc
Word Origin
Old English wrenna, werna; related to Old High German wrendo, rentilo, Old Norse rindill

Wren1

/rɛn/
noun
1.
(history, informal) (in Britain and certain other nations) a member of the former Women's Royal Naval Service
Word Origin
C20: from the abbreviation WRNS

Wren2

/rɛn/
noun
1.
Sir Christopher. 1632–1723, English architect. He designed St Paul's Cathedral and over 50 other London churches after the Great Fire as well as many secular buildings
Word Origin and History for wren
n.

Old English wrenna, metathesis variation of earlier werna, a West Germanic word of uncertain origin. Cf. Icelandic rindill, Old High German wrendo, wrendilo "wren." The bird's name in other languages usually denotes "royalty" (cf. Latin regulus), in reference to its golden crest.