Tern — Defs

01 n. Any one of numerous species of long-winged aquatic birds, allied to the gulls, and belonging to Sterna and various allied genera.

1.
Any one of numerous species of long-winged aquatic birds, allied to the gulls, and belonging to Sterna and various allied genera.(Zool.)

Phrases & compounds

Hooded tern — See Fairy bird, under Fairy.

Marsh tern — any tern of the genus Hydrochelidon. They frequent marshes and rivers and feed largely upon insects.

River tern — any tern belonging to Seena or allied genera which frequent rivers.

Sea tern — any tern of the genus Thalasseus. Terns of this genus have very long, pointed wings, and chiefly frequent seas and the mouths of large rivers.

02 a. Threefold; triple; consisting of three; ternate.

1.
Threefold; triple; consisting of three; ternate.

Phrases & compounds

Tern flowers — flowers growing three and three together.

Tern leaves — leaves arranged in threes, or three by three, or having three in each whorl or set.

Tern peduncles — three peduncles growing together from the same axis.

Tern schooner — a three-masted schooner.

03 n. That which consists of, or pertains to, three things or numbers together; especially, a prize in a lottery resulting from the favorable com…

1.
That which consists of, or pertains to, three things or numbers together; especially, a prize in a lottery resulting from the favorable combination of three numbers in the drawing; also, the three numbers themselves.
“She'd win a tern in Thursday's lottery.” — Mrs. Browning.