martin

Everyday

1. A martin is a small bird of the swallow family, such as the house martin, which builds a mud nest under the roofs of houses and flies south in winter. tree →
2. Martin is a common boy's first name and a surname. tree →
3. (church) Saint Martin of Tours was a soldier who cut his cloak in half to share with a freezing beggar; he is remembered for kindness. tree →

In the lessons

In science and nature lessons, house martins, sand martins and purple martins are watched in spring and summer; they catch insects in the air and migrate. In history, Martin Luther began the Protestant Reformation, and Martin Luther King Jr led the civil rights movement for equality. Phrases: house martin, sand martin, Saint Martin, Martin Luther King Jr.

Examples

• House martins built a mud nest under our roof. tree →
• The martins flew south when the weather turned cold. tree →
• Sand martins nest in holes in river banks. tree →
• Saint Martin shared his cloak with a poor man. tree →
• Martin Luther King Jr dreamed of equality for all. tree →
• Martin from next door helped us fix the fence. tree →
• So Martin started off for the town. tree →

Note

Small m for the bird; capital M for the name. Countable for the bird (martins). A martin is related to the swallow but has a shorter tail; the house martin has a white patch on its back.