tern

noun

ˈtərn 

: 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

Examples of tern in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The tara iti season began in December, when there were fewer than 35 terns remaining, officials said, but there were nine active nests and 25 eggs by the middle of the month. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 19 June 2025

But once there, trails connect the bayside to the ocean, and hiking them is a good way to spot one of the island’s rarer bird species, like the American oystercatcher or the Least terns. —Ryan Krogh, Outside Online, 3 June 2025

However, species like shags and terns saw large losses, primarily due to winter storms and bird flu. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 15 May 2025

Conservationists estimate the island is home to around 2,500 pairs of common terns and about 35 pairs of roseate terns. —Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

of Scandinavian origin; akin to Danish terne tern

First Known Use

1678, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tern

• arctic tern
• least tern
• roseate tern
• sooty tern

Rhymes for tern

• churns
• earns
• ferns
• kerns
• learns
• spurns
• sterns
• terns
• turns
• yearns
• adjourns
• concerns

Kids Definition

tern

noun

ˈtərn 

: 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