tern Hear it!

tern definition

tern (tʉrn)

noun

any of several shorebirds (family Laridae) with webbed feet, a deeply forked tail, a straight bill, and a slender body; sea swallow

Etymology: < ON therna, via E Anglian dial.; akin to OE stearna

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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