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• Arctic tern
  Arctic tern

  noun

  a tern, Sterna paradisaea, resembling the common tern, that breeds in Arctic and north temperate regions and winters in Antarctic regions.
• arctic tern
  arctic tern

  noun

  a black-capped tern, Sterna paradisea, that breeds in the Arctic and then migrates as far south as the Antarctic

Arctic tern

American  

Or arctic tern

noun

1. a tern, Sterna paradisaea, resembling the common tern, that breeds in Arctic and north temperate regions and winters in Antarctic regions.

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arctic tern British  

noun

1. a black-capped tern, Sterna paradisea, that breeds in the Arctic and then migrates as far south as the Antarctic

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Etymology

Origin of Arctic tern

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

More Arctic tern pairs moved here this year to nest, compared to last year, but the breeding ground looked empty the last time we were there.

From BBC • Aug. 3, 2023

The eVTOL is a curious, birdlike thing, which makes sense as it is modeled after the long-flight Arctic tern.

From Washington Post • Jan. 31, 2022

The number of Arctic tern and common tern chicks were among the lowest ever recorded.

From Salon • Jan. 7, 2022

Several migratory birds, including the Arctic tern and skua are thought to be the most likely culprits for delivering the viruses to Antarctica.

From The Guardian • Sep. 20, 2016

“You know,” she said, “if I close my eyes, I could almost be an Arctic tern flying over the water.”

From "Okay for Now" by Gary D. Schmidt