Illustration of auk
: any of several black-and-white short-necked diving seabirds of the alcid family that breed in colder parts of the northern hemisphere compare great auk
Examples of auk in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
During a summertime visit, guests can marvel at huge crowds of northern gannets packed onto the surface of the formation, while other potential seabird sightings span from the common murre to the black-legged kittiwake to the little auk.
—
Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
By re-examining the translation of the word auk from the previous interpretation, the meaning changes so that fines could be paid with either one ox or with two öre of silver.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Aug. 2024
Lampman said that the bird is an auk, a species found in the Faroe Islands, where Jonas Bronck lived before going to Holland and then to America.
—Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024
Musk ox and auk.
—Carl Hoffman, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2023
But around the early 16th century, when European seaman discovered the large auk populations of Newfoundland, the killing of the birds reached rapacious levels.
—Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, 28 Nov. 2019
Further back in history, the larger auk species played an important part in colonization and the economy of the Arctic.
—John Schandelmeier, Anchorage Daily News, 24 June 2018
Man has long imperilled beast, as reflected by the extinction of the passenger pigeon, great auk, and Tasmanian tiger.
—Hannah Beech, The New Yorker, 30 Apr. 2017
Another big bird that's no longer with us is the great auk—a favorite of Bill Rapley, the Toronto Zoo's executive director of conservation.
—Michael Doolittle, National Geographic, 16 Apr. 2016
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Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
By re-examining the translation of the word auk from the previous interpretation, the meaning changes so that fines could be paid with either one ox or with two öre of silver.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Aug. 2024
Lampman said that the bird is an auk, a species found in the Faroe Islands, where Jonas Bronck lived before going to Holland and then to America.
—Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024
Musk ox and auk.
—Carl Hoffman, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2023
But around the early 16th century, when European seaman discovered the large auk populations of Newfoundland, the killing of the birds reached rapacious levels.
—Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, 28 Nov. 2019
Further back in history, the larger auk species played an important part in colonization and the economy of the Arctic.
—John Schandelmeier, Anchorage Daily News, 24 June 2018
Man has long imperilled beast, as reflected by the extinction of the passenger pigeon, great auk, and Tasmanian tiger.
—Hannah Beech, The New Yorker, 30 Apr. 2017
Another big bird that's no longer with us is the great auk—a favorite of Bill Rapley, the Toronto Zoo's executive director of conservation.
—Michael Doolittle, National Geographic, 16 Apr. 2016
Cite this Entry
“Auk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/auk. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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auk
noun
: any of several black-and-white short-necked diving seabirds that breed in colder parts of the northern hemisphere
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