Found 2 items, similar to tern.
English → English (WordNet)
Definition: tern
tern
n : small slender gull having narrow wings and a forked tail
English → English (gcide)
Definition: Tern
Tern
\Tern\, a. [L. pl. terni three each, three; akin to tres
three. See
Three, and cf.
Trine.]
Threefold; triple; consisting of three; ternate.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
Tern
\Tern\ (t[~e]rn), n. [Dan. terne, t[ae]rne; akin to Sw.
t["a]rna, Icel. [thorn]erna; cf. NL. sterna.] (Zo["o]l.)
Any one of numerous species of long-winged aquatic birds,
allied to the gulls, and belonging to
Sterna and various
allied genera.
[1913 Webster]
Note: 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 paradis[ae]a), the
roseate tern (
Sterna Dougalli), the least tern
(
Sterna Antillarum), the royal tern (
Sterna maxima
), and the sooty tern (
Sterna fuliginosa).
[1913 Webster]
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
Se["e]na 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.
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Tern
\Tern\, n. [F. terne. See
Tern, a.]
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.
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She'd win a tern in Thursday's lottery. --Mrs.
Browning.
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