birth ‧ day S1 W3 /ˈbɜːθdeɪ $ ˈbɜːr-/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
1 . your birthday is a day that is an exact number of years after the day you were born:
It’s my birthday on Monday.
My aunt called to wish me a happy birthday.
Anne’s birthday party
2 . a day that is an exact number of years since an organization was established or an event first happened ⇨ anniversary :
The City of Cleveland Orchestra is celebrating its 200th birthday.
3 . in your birthday suit informal not wearing any clothes – used humorously
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ sb’s first/18th/40th etc birthday
It’s Mum’s 50th birthday tomorrow.
▪ Happy Birthday! (=said to someone on their birthday)
Happy Birthday, Linda!
■ verbs
▪ have a good/nice etc birthday
Did you have a nice birthday?
▪ get something for your birthday
What did you get for your birthday?
▪ celebrate sb’s birthday
He will celebrate his 90th birthday on 25th August.
▪ remember sb’s birthday (=remember to send a card or present)
She always remembers my birthday.
▪ forget sb’s birthday (=forget to send a card or present)
Oh no! I forgot his birthday.
▪ give something to somebody for their birthday
I never know what to give him for his birthday.
■ birthday + NOUN
▪ a birthday card
Don’t forget to send her a birthday card.
▪ a birthday present
Have you got Lou a birthday present yet?
▪ a birthday party
Can you come to my birthday party next Saturday?
▪ a birthday cake
She had a birthday cake with 21 silver candles on it.
▪ birthday celebrations
the President’s 60th birthday celebrations
▪ a birthday treat (=something special you do on your birthday)
What would you like to do for a birthday treat?
▪ a birthday meal
Where are you going for your birthday meal?
▪ the birthday girl/boy informal (=the person whose birthday it is)
Here comes the birthday girl!