Definition of: oriole

(ôr′ē·ōl, ō′rē-) noun
1. Any of a family (Oriolidae) of black-and-yellow passerine birds of the Old World, related to the crows; the common European (or golden) oriole (Oriolus oriolus) is bright yellow with sharply contrasting black wings and tail, and builds a hanging nest.
2. One of various black-and-yellow American songbirds (family Icteridae) building a hanging nest; especially, the Baltimore oriole and the orchard oriole. [<OF oriol <Med. L oriolus <L aureolus, dim. of aureus golden <aurum gold]