 any one of various species of old world singing birds of the family oriolidae. they are usually conspicuously colored with yellow and black. the european or golden oriole (oriolus galbula, or o. oriolus) has a very musical flutelike note. -in america, any one of several species of the genus icterus, belonging to the family icteridae. see baltimore oriole, and orchard oriole, under orchard.