Tern

Pronunciation

• GenAm enPR: tûrn, IPA: /tɝn/
• RP enPR: tûrn, IPA: /tɜːn/
• Homophones: turn
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)n

From a Scandinavian language, related to Danish terne, Swedish tärna, ultimately from Old Norse þerna

Full definition of tern

Noun

1. Any of various sea birds of the family Sternidae that are similar to gulls but are smaller and have a forked tail.

Derived terms

• arctic tern
• black tern
• common tern
• hooded tern
• marsh tern
• river tern
• roseate tern
• sooty tern

French terne. See tern (adjective).

Noun

1. That which consists of, or pertains to, three things or numbers together.
2. (dated) A lottery prize resulting from the favourable combination of three numbers in the draw.
• Mrs BrowningShe'd win a tern in Thursday's lottery.

Adjective

1. threefold; triple; consisting of three; ternatetern flowers; tern leavesa tern schooner, one with three masts

Anagrams

• rent
• tren