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Glite Dictionary
little auk

little auk

9.9
A small sea bird with a short beak that lives in the Arctic
  • noun
  • /ˈlɪtəl ɔk/
translation icon : pájaro de las nieves
  • The little auk feeds mainly on zooplankton, diving underwater to catch its prey.

Examples

  • Each summer, thousands of little auks migrate to the northern coasts to breed.

  • I spotted a little auk near the shore.

  • During their Arctic expedition, researchers observed several little auks nesting along the rocky cliffs.

  • The little auks are known for their unique diving skills.

  • During their Arctic expedition, researchers observed several little auks nesting along the rocky cliffs.

  • Each summer, thousands of little auks migrate to the northern coasts to breed.

  • The little auk feeds mainly on zooplankton, diving underwater to catch its prey.

Synonyms

dovekie
vslittle auk
  • US
9.9

A small black and white sea bird with a short bill that lives in the Arctic

is the formal description that includes the parenthetical scientific name
Plautus alle
vslittle auk
  • Specialized
9.9

A small seabird with a short beak that nests on Arctic rocky coasts

is the formal description that includes the parenthetical scientific name

Surface Forms

little auk singular
little auks plural

Morphology

little + auk

The meaning 'a small auk' is directly compositional: 'little' simply modifies 'auk' to indicate size. This adjective+noun pattern is regular and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer it refers to a small seabird.

Etymology

Little auk comes from a simple picture: little and auk mean a very small auk or sea bird. So the name now means 'a tiny Arctic seabird'.