tern

tern

noun \ˈtərn\

Definition of TERN

: any of various chiefly marine birds (subfamily Sterninae of the family Laridae and especially genus Sterna) that differ from the related gulls in usually smaller size, a more slender build, a sharply pointed bill, narrower wings, and an often forked tail

Illustration of TERN

Origin of TERN

of Scandinavian origin; akin to Dan terne tern

First Known Use: 1678

Rhymes with TERN

Bern, burn, churn, earn, erne, fern, kern, learn, pirn, quern, spurn, stern, terne, turn, urn, yearn