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Torn vs Tern - What's the difference?

torn | tern |

As a verb torn

is (rip, rend, speed).

As a noun tern is

any of various sea birds of the family sternidae that are similar to gulls but are smaller and have a forked tail or tern can be that which consists of, or pertains to, three things or numbers together.

As an adjective tern is

threefold; triple; consisting of three; ternate.

torn

English

Verb

(head)
  • (rip, rend, speed).

    • Usage notes

    * The past participle of the (tear), meaning "produce liquid from the eyes", is (teared). English irregular past participles ----

    tern

    English

    Etymology 1

    From a Scandinavian language, related to Danish terne'', Swedish '' , ultimately from (etyl)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Any of various sea birds of the family Sternidae that are similar to gulls but are smaller and have a forked tail.
    • Derived terms
    * arctic tern * black tern * common tern * crested tern * greater crested tern * hooded tern * lesser crested tern * marsh tern * river tern * roseate tern * sooty tern * swift tern
    See also
    * sea swallow * (wikipedia) * (Sternidae) * (Sternidae)

    Etymology 2

    (etyl) terne. See (tern) (adjective).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • That which consists of, or pertains to, three things or numbers together.
  • (dated) A lottery prize resulting from the favourable combination of three numbers in the draw.
  • * Mrs Browning
    • She'd win a tern in Thursday's lottery.

    Adjective

    (-)
  • threefold; triple; consisting of three; ternate
    • tern''' flowers; '''tern leaves
    a tern schooner, one with three masts

    Anagrams

    * *