: any of various dark-colored web-footed waterbirds (family Phalacrocoracidae, especially genus Phalacrocorax) that have a long neck, hooked bill, and distensible throat pouch
Diamond Jim Brady was perhaps the most celebrated cormorant of the Gilded Age.
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Salton Sea: In the May 25 California section, an article about efforts to create new wetlands at the Salton Sea referred to double-crested cormorants as double-breasted cormorants.—Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025 In others, huddles of cormorants gather on the black sand beaches, and sea lions bark from the rocks.—John Bartlett, NPR, 8 June 2025 On a dolphin discovery tour, guests can see dolphins, egrets, pelicans, gulls, herons, cormorants and the occasional sea turtle.—Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2025 End the day near Morro Rock to watch the sunset or spot sea lions, cormorants and pelicans living around it.—Emese MacZko, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for cormorant
Word History
Etymology
Middle English cormeraunt, from Middle French cormorant, from Old French cormareng, from corp raven + marenc of the sea, from Latin marinus — more at corbel, marine
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