garuḍa : In Indian mythology, a class of large bird-like beings, ever in a state of enmity with the nāga serpents whom they eat.

A Dictionary of Buddhism, Oxford University Press, 2003, 2004 (which is available in electronic version from answer.com)

garuḍá m. (√2. gṝ Uṇ. iv, 155, 'devourer', because Garuḍa was perhaps originally identified with the all-consuming fire of the sun's rays), N. of a mythical bird (chief of the feathered race, enemy of the serpent-race [cf. RTL. p. 321], vehicle of Vishṇu [cf. RTL. pp. 65 ; 104 ; 288], son of Kaśyapa and Vinatā
• shortly after his birth he frightened the gods by his brilliant lustre
• they supposed him to be Agni, and requested his protection
• when they discovered that he was Garuḍa, they praised him as the highest being, and called him fire and sun MBh. i, 1239 ff
• Aruṇa, the charioteer of the sun or the personified dawn, is said to be the elder [or younger, cf. RTL. p. 104] brother of Garuḍa
• Svāhā, the wife of Agni, takes the shape of a female Garuḍī = suparṇī MBh. iii, 14307 and 14343) Suparṇ. TĀr. x, 1, 6 MBh. &c
• a building shaped like Garuḍa R. VarBṛS.
• N. of a peculiar military array Mn. vii, 187
• N. of the attendant of the 16th Arhat of the present Avasarpiṇī L.
• N. of the 14th Kalpa period
• N. of a son of Kṛishṇa Hariv. 9196
• (ī), f. of ○ḍá, q.v
 

Sanskrit-English Dictionary, by M. Monier William

nam mkha'i lding

[translation-san] {C} garuḍa

[translation-eng] {Hopkins} Garuḍa

[comments] the Garuḍa is a golden winged bird who is the vehicle of Viṣṇu and the lord of the winged race

Jeffrey Hopkins' Tibetan-Sanskrit-English Dictionary