Illustration 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
Examples of tern in a Sentence
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According to Eustis the spill threatens a range of species including black terns, bottlenose dolphins, larval yellowfin tuna, marsh birds, spring pogies, and young fish migrating into the estuaries for spring growth.
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Dan Ruetenik, CBS News, 2 May 2025
After a successful nesting season drew over 200 endangered fairy terns, something began to go wrong.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
During the journey, participants can keep their eyes peeled for a wide variety of avian species spanning from the black-legged kittiwake to the razorbill to the Caspian tern, and to sweeten the deal, the surrounding waters are also brimming with humpback whales from early summer to late fall.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
Those birds, following Lake Michigan’s shoreline, include raptors, waterfowl, gulls, terns and shorebirds.
—Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2025
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Dan Ruetenik, CBS News, 2 May 2025
After a successful nesting season drew over 200 endangered fairy terns, something began to go wrong.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
During the journey, participants can keep their eyes peeled for a wide variety of avian species spanning from the black-legged kittiwake to the razorbill to the Caspian tern, and to sweeten the deal, the surrounding waters are also brimming with humpback whales from early summer to late fall.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
Those birds, following Lake Michigan’s shoreline, include raptors, waterfowl, gulls, terns and shorebirds.
—Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tern
Cite this Entry
“Tern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tern. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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tern
noun
: any of numerous sea birds that often have a forked tail, black cap, and white or gray body and that in comparison to the related gulls have a smaller and slenderer body and bill and narrower wings
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