tern

IPA/tɜːn/
KK[tˈɚnz]IPA/tɜːrn/

tern — noun

  • ternsingular
  • ternsplural

1. A small seabird with long narrow wings, a forked tail, and usually white feather

1.nounB1
Definition

A small seabird with long narrow wings, a forked tail, and usually white feathers with grey or black markings, commonly found along coastlines and near inland waters.

Example

Amira spotted a tern diving for small fish near the pier.

A flock of terns rested on the sandy beach after their long flight.

collocation: flock of terns

Common collocations
  • flock of terns
  • tern colony
  • nesting terns
  • Arctic tern
  • common tern
  • tern migration
Synonyms
  • seabird

    a broader category that includes terns, gulls, and many other ocean birds

  • gull

    gulls are larger and stouter than terns, with shorter legs and broader wings

Usage Note

Terns are similar to gulls but are generally smaller, with narrower wings and a clearly forked tail. Adding a species name is common, e.g. 'Arctic tern' or 'common tern'.

Common Mistakes

I saw a tern sitting on the dock.
I saw a tern diving for fish near the shore.
Terns are seabirds that actively hunt from the air; they are not typically seen sitting idly on docks like gulls.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Tern', 'gull', and 'seabird' are related but not interchangeable. 'Seabird' is the broadest term, covering any bird that lives near or on the ocean, including albatrosses, puffins, and pelicans. 'Gull' refers to a specific family of stout-bodied birds with broad wings and a hooked bill, often seen scavenging near shore. 'Tern' describes a subgroup of seabirds that are slimmer than gulls, with very narrow pointed wings, a forked tail, and a direct diving hunting style. For example: 'A tern can be mistaken for a gull at a distance, but its forked tail and lighter body give it away.'

tern ↗gull ↗seabird

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • flock of terns
  • tern nesting site
  • tern colony
  • Arctic tern migration

Prepositions

Etymology

Old NorseEnglish

The word 'tern' comes from Old Norse 'þerna', which was the name for this kind of seabird. It is related to modern Scandinavian words such as Swedish 'tärna' and Danish 'terne', all referring to the same group of birds.