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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
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Recent Examples of tern from the Web
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A 2016 bird count tallied multiple species of herons, cormorants, pelicans, hawks, plover, gnatcatchers, quail, and terns, among others.
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This estuary and the immediate Pacific is also where many of these juveniles die, eaten by predators such as Caspian terns or killed by the cumulative effects of the wearying journey downriver.
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Along with the tern, the teachers saw the abundance of birds that have made Masonville a popular spot for birdwatchers.
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Along with the tern, the teachers saw the abundance of birds that have made Masonville a popular spot for birdwatchers.
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A pair of Arctic terns show off their parenting skills in the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge at Potter Marsh south of Anchorage.
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From April through September, thousands of terns venture northward to Matsu to mate.
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Chelsea (Rankin) Felbeck of San Diego received the Giles T. Brown outstanding thesis award for her study of the colony dynamics of elegant terns and factors in seabird abundance and distribution.
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Howard said that three or four sooty terns (seabirds) working a weedline is often a good sign of dolphin.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tern.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Illustration of tern
Origin and Etymology of tern
of Scandinavian origin; akin to Danish terne tern
TERN Defined for English Language Learners
tern
playDefinition of tern for English Language Learners
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: a kind of bird that lives near the ocean, is usually black and white, and has long wings and a tail with two points
TERN Defined for Kids
tern
playDefinition of tern for Students
: a small slender seagull with a white body, narrow wings, and the top of the head black
Learn More about tern
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See words that rhyme with tern Spanish Central: Translation of tern Nglish: Translation of tern for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tern
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