Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Tern
Tern
(tẽrn)
, Noun.
[Dan.
terne
, tærne
; akin to Sw. tärna
, Icel. þerna
; cf. NL. sterna
.] (Zool.)
Any one of numerous species of long-winged aquatic birds, allied to the gulls, and belonging to
Sterna
and various allied genera. ☞ Terns differ from gulls chiefly in their graceful form, in their weaker and more slender bills and feet, and their longer and more pointed wings. The tail is usually forked. Most of the species are white with the back and wings pale gray, and often with a dark head. The common European tern (
Sterna hirundo
) is found also in Asia and America. Among other American species are the arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea
), the roseate tern (Sterna Dougalli
), the least tern (Sterna Antillarum
), the royal tern (Sterna maxima
), and the sooty tern (Sterna fuliginosa
). Hooded tern
. See
– Fairy bird
, under Fairy
. Marsh tern
, any tern of the genus
– Hydrochelidon
. They frequent marshes and rivers and feed largely upon insects. River tern
, any tern belonging to
– Seena
or allied genera which frequent rivers. Sea tern
, any tern of the genus
Thalasseus
. Terns of this genus have very long, pointed wings, and chiefly frequent seas and the mouths of large rivers.Tern
,Adj.
Threefold; triple; consisting of three; ternate.
Tern flowers
(Bot.)
, flowers growing three and three together.
– Tern leaves
(Bot.)
, leaves arranged in threes, or three by three, or having three in each whorl or set.
– Tern peduncles
(Bot.)
, three peduncles growing together from the same axis.
– Tern schooner
(Naut.)
, a three-masted schooner.
Tern
,Noun.
That which consists of, or pertains to, three things or numbers together; especially, a prize in a lottery resulting from the favorable combination of three numbers in the drawing; also, the three numbers themselves.
She’d win a
tern
in Thursday's lottery. Mrs. Browning.
Webster 1828 Edition
Tern
TERN
,Noun.
the black tern, the lesser tern, or hooded tern, and the foolish tern, or noddy, (S. stolida.) The brown tern, or brown gull, (S. obscura,) is considered as the young of the pewit gull or sea-crow, before molting.
TERN
,Adj.
Tern leaves, in threes, or three by three; expressing the number of leaves in each whorl or set.
Tern peduncles, three growing together from the same axil.
Tern flowers, growing three and three together.
Definition 2024
tern
tern
English
An arctic tern
Noun
tern (plural terns)
- Any of various sea birds of the family Sternidae that are similar to gulls but are smaller and have a forked tail.
Derived terms
Terms derived from tern
Translations
bird of family Sternidae
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See also
- sea swallow
-
tern on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
-
Sternidae on Wikispecies.Wikispecies
-
Sternidae on Wikimedia Commons.Wikimedia Commons
Etymology 2
French terne. See tern (adjective).
Noun
tern (plural terns)
- That which consists of, or pertains to, three things or numbers together.
- (dated) A lottery prize resulting from the favourable combination of three numbers in the draw.
- Mrs Browning
- She'd win a tern in Thursday's lottery.
- Mrs Browning
Adjective
tern (not comparable)
- threefold; triple; consisting of three; ternate
- tern flowers; tern leaves
- a tern schooner, one with three masts