petrel

noun

pe·​trel ˈpe-trəl How to pronounce petrel (audio) ˈpē- How to pronounce petrel (audio)
: any of numerous seabirds (especially families Procellariidae and Hydrobatidae)
especially : one of the smaller long-winged birds that fly far from land compare storm petrel

Examples of petrel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
As a result, boobies, shearwaters, petrels, and other seabirds have recovered, and island creatures from lizards to stick insects have reclaimed their homes. Byelizabeth Pennisi, science.org, 19 Sep. 2024 When the storm dies down, the mass of birds will probably dissipate, Kyle Horton, a researcher at Colorado State University who studies bird migration, told Vox. Storms like Helene can blow seabirds like petrels, jaegers, and frigatebirds far inland. Benji Jones, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018 The pigeon-sized petrels (Pterodroma deserta), which nest on Portugal's Bugio Island, off western North Africa, will spend weeks at sea in a foraging frenzy that takes them on a 7,500-mile (12,000-km) round trip across the Atlantic Ocean. New Atlas, 11 July 2024 On Burgess Island, New Zealand, for example, common diving petrels and little shearwaters returned within two decades after rats were removed. Ethan Freedman, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for petrel 

Word History

Etymology

earlier also pitteril, pitteral, of obscure origin

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of petrel was in 1602

Dictionary Entries Near petrel

Cite this Entry

“Petrel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/petrel. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

petrel

noun
pe·​trel ˈpe-trəl How to pronounce petrel (audio) ˈpē- How to pronounce petrel (audio)
: any of various seabirds with long wings that fly far from land

More from Merriam-Webster on petrel

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