tern

[ turn ]

/ tɜrn /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR tern ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

any of numerous aquatic birds of the subfamily Sterninae of the family Laridae, related to the gulls but usually having a more slender body and bill, smaller feet, a long, deeply forked tail, and a more graceful flight, especially those of the genus Sterna, as S. hirundo(common tern ), of Eurasia and America, having white, black, and gray plumage.

Origin of tern

First recorded in 1670–80; from Danish terne or Norwegian terna; cognate with Old Norse therna

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH tern

tern , turn

Words nearby tern

term policy, terms, terms of service, terms of trade, termwise, tern, terna, ternary, ternary form, ternary operation, ternate

Definition for tern (2 of 2)

tern²

[ turn ]

/ tɜrn /

noun

a set of three.

three winning numbers drawn together in a lottery.

a prize won by drawing these.

Origin of tern

1300–50; Middle English terne<Middle French <Italian terno<Latin ternus, singular of ternī three each, triad, akin to ter thrice; see three

Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for tern

Swarth suggests that the tern is not established at the Galapagos because of the presence of colder water in the area.
The Avifauna of Micronesia, Volume 3|Rollin H. Baker
The Sabine's gull and Arctic tern are compatible and nest within 20 feet of each other.
Birds Found on the Arctic Slope of Northern Alaska|James W. Bee
The Arctic tern (Sterna paradisa) had a large community on the rocky island.
Trails and Tramps in Alaska and Newfoundland|William S. Thomas
The Arctic tern hatches on its shores, laying its eggs in the beach gravel.
The New North|Agnes Deans Cameron

These characters alone are sufficient to distinguish the Tern from any of the Gulls; but it presents yet more striking features.
British Birds in their Haunts|Rev. C. A. Johns

British Dictionary definitions for tern (1 of 2)

tern¹

/ (tɜːn) /

noun

any aquatic bird of the subfamily Sterninae, having a forked tail, long narrow wings, a pointed bill, and a typically black-and-white plumage: family Laridae (gulls, etc), order Charadriiformes

Word Origin for tern

C18: from Old Norse therna; related to Norwegian terna, Swedish tärna

British Dictionary definitions for tern (2 of 2)

tern²

/ (tɜːn) /

noun

a three-masted schooner

rare a group of three

Word Origin for tern

C14: from Old French terne, from Italian terno, from Latin ternī three each; related to Latin ter thrice, trēs three

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

单词	tern
释义	tern ¹ [ turn ] / tɜrn / SEE SYNONYMS FOR tern ON THESAURUS.COM noun any of numerous aquatic birds of the subfamily Sterninae of the family Laridae, related to the gulls but usually having a more slender body and bill, smaller feet, a long, deeply forked tail, and a more graceful flight, especially those of the genus Sterna, as S. hirundo(common tern ), of Eurasia and America, having white, black, and gray plumage. Origin of tern ¹ First recorded in 1670–80; from Danish terne or Norwegian terna; cognate with Old Norse therna WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH tern tern , turn Words nearby tern term policy, terms, terms of service, terms of trade, termwise, tern, terna, ternary, ternary form, ternary operation, ternate Definition for tern (2 of 2) tern² [ turn ] / tɜrn / noun a set of three. three winning numbers drawn together in a lottery. a prize won by drawing these. Origin of tern ² 1300–50; Middle English terne<Middle French <Italian terno<Latin ternus, singular of ternī three each, triad, akin to ter thrice; see three Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020 Example sentences from the Web for tern Swarth suggests that the tern is not established at the Galapagos because of the presence of colder water in the area. The Avifauna of Micronesia, Volume 3\|Rollin H. Baker The Sabine's gull and Arctic tern are compatible and nest within 20 feet of each other. Birds Found on the Arctic Slope of Northern Alaska\|James W. Bee The Arctic tern (Sterna paradisa) had a large community on the rocky island. Trails and Tramps in Alaska and Newfoundland\|William S. Thomas The Arctic tern hatches on its shores, laying its eggs in the beach gravel. The New North\|Agnes Deans Cameron These characters alone are sufficient to distinguish the Tern from any of the Gulls; but it presents yet more striking features. British Birds in their Haunts\|Rev. C. A. Johns British Dictionary definitions for tern (1 of 2) tern¹ / (tɜːn) / noun any aquatic bird of the subfamily Sterninae, having a forked tail, long narrow wings, a pointed bill, and a typically black-and-white plumage: family Laridae (gulls, etc), order Charadriiformes Word Origin for tern C18: from Old Norse therna; related to Norwegian terna, Swedish tärna British Dictionary definitions for tern (2 of 2) tern² / (tɜːn) / noun a three-masted schooner rare a group of three Word Origin for tern C14: from Old French terne, from Italian terno, from Latin ternī three each; related to Latin ter thrice, trēs three Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Words related to tern vessel, yacht, clipper, glass, ship
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tern

noun

Origin of tern

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH tern

Words nearby tern

Definition for tern (2 of 2)

noun

Origin of tern

Example sentences from the Web for tern

British Dictionary definitions for tern (1 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for tern

British Dictionary definitions for tern (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for tern

Words related to tern