# tern

/ˈtɝnz/ (US) · /tˈɜːn/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tern
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

a type of sea bird with long wings and a pointed tail. You often see them flying near the ocean or on the coast.

For teachers: any of various seabirds of the family Laridae, characterized by long, narrow wings and a deeply forked tail. Often distinguished from gulls by their more streamlined body and more agile flight.

## Examples

- A tern flew low over the water to catch a fish.
- The tern nested on the sandy beach, building a shallow scrape in the sand to protect its eggs from the tide.
- While many gulls are found in urban environments, the tern is a more specialized seabird that typically breeds in colonies on coastal islands or sandbars to avoid terrestrial predators.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.