tern

tern — noun

1. A small seabird with long narrow wings, a forked tail, and usually white feather

1.名詞B1
釋義

A small seabird with long narrow wings, a forked tail, and usually white feathers with grey or black markings, commonly found along coastlines and near inland waters.

例句

Amira spotted a tern diving for small fish near the pier.

A flock of terns rested on the sandy beach after their long flight.

collocation: flock of terns

同義詞
  • seabird

    a broader category that includes terns, gulls, and many other ocean birds

  • gull

    gulls are larger and stouter than terns, with shorter legs and broader wings

用法筆記

Terns are similar to gulls but are generally smaller, with narrower wings and a clearly forked tail. Adding a species name is common, e.g. 'Arctic tern' or 'common tern'.

常見錯誤

❌I saw a tern sitting on the dock.
✅I saw a tern diving for fish near the shore.
💡Terns are seabirds that actively hunt from the air; they are not typically seen sitting idly on docks like gulls.