What does tern mean?
Tern means Any of various seabirds of the subfamily Sterninae (of the family Laridae) that are similar to gulls but are smaller and have a forked tail..
Tern
/tɜːn/ · noun
Meaning
Any of various seabirds of the subfamily Sterninae (of the family Laridae) that are similar to gulls but are smaller and have a forked tail..
Definitions by Sense
- Any of various seabirds of the subfamily Sterninae (of the family Laridae) that are similar to gulls but are smaller and have a forked tail.
- (dated or obsolete) A thing with three components; a set of three things.
- (chiefly botany, rare) Consisting of three components; ternate, threefold, triple.
Example Sentences
tern flowers tern leaves
a tern schooner, one with three masts
Synonyms for tern
Antonyms for tern
Related Words
Word Forms
- terns
- terne
Usage Notes
Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.
Practice and Learn More
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a synonym for tern?
Common synonyms include ternary, treble, trine, tern.
What is the opposite of tern?
The opposite depends on the specific sense.
How do you use tern in a sentence?
tern flowers tern leaves
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.