bunting

Everyday

1. Rows of small coloured flags, often triangles, hung on a string for a party or celebration. tree →
2. A small seed-eating bird, such as the reed bunting or the corn bunting. tree →
3. (old) A thin cloth used to make flags. tree →

In the lessons

Seen at street parties, fêtes, sports days and festivals, especially in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. In maths, problems about how many flags fit along a length of bunting. In nature lessons, the bird. Phrases: «put up the bunting», «a string of bunting».

Examples

• We hung bunting across the school hall for the party. tree →
• The street was covered in red, white and blue bunting. tree →
• Each metre of bunting has 4 flags, so 5 metres has 20 flags. tree →
• A reed bunting sang in the bushes. tree →
• We made paper bunting in art. tree →
• Take the bunting down after the fair. tree →

Note

Flags sense is uncountable: «some bunting», «a lot of bunting», not «buntings». The bird is countable. In maths: number of flags = length × flags per metre.