Illustration of tern
: any of various chiefly marine birds (subfamily Sterninae of the family Laridae and especially genus Sterna) that differ from the related gulls in usually smaller size, a more slender build, a sharply pointed bill, narrower wings, and an often forked tail
Examples of tern in a Sentence
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One of them had the feathers of a young tern in its stomach.
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Benji Jones, Vox, 21 May 2024
Tromelin Island was probably home to at least eight different seabird species before the rodents arrived, including hundreds of thousands of frigatebirds, terns and boobies.
—Ethan Freedman, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 May 2024
Black terns and eastern meadowlarks have also dwindled.
—John Myers, Twin Cities, 26 May 2024
Around 40 percent of Peru’s pelicans and 17 percent of Europe’s Sandwich terns died in a matter of months, and researchers have identified the virus in hundreds of wild bird species, Wille says.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for tern 
Benji Jones, Vox, 21 May 2024
Tromelin Island was probably home to at least eight different seabird species before the rodents arrived, including hundreds of thousands of frigatebirds, terns and boobies.
—Ethan Freedman, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 May 2024
Black terns and eastern meadowlarks have also dwindled.
—John Myers, Twin Cities, 26 May 2024
Around 40 percent of Peru’s pelicans and 17 percent of Europe’s Sandwich terns died in a matter of months, and researchers have identified the virus in hundreds of wild bird species, Wille says.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for tern
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“Tern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tern. Accessed 2 Jul. 2024.
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tern
noun
: any of numerous sea birds that often have a forked tail, black cap, and white or gray body and that in comparison to the related gulls have a smaller and slenderer body and bill and narrower wings
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