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seafowl

seafowl

7.2
A bird that lives near the sea, like gulls or pelicans
  • noun
  • /ˈsiːfaʊl/
translation icon : aves marinas
  • Several species of seafowl can be seen gliding over the waves at dawn.

Examples

  • The cliffs were alive with nesting seafowl each spring.

  • Fishermen often watch seafowl to locate schools of fish.

  • A seafowl landed on the rocky shore.

  • I spotted several seafowls near the lighthouse.

  • As I walked along the beach, I saw a group of seafowl diving for fish in the waves.

  • The seafowl perched on the cliff, watching the ocean below for any signs of movement.

  • During our boat trip, we encountered a flock of seafowl soaring gracefully above the water.

Synonyms

seabird
vsseafowl
10 1.9

A bird that lives near the sea and often flies over water, like gulls or albatrosses

visits coastal waters and open ocean rather than spending most of life there
sea bird
vsseafowl
1 2.0

A bird that lives near the sea, like a gull

visits coastal waters and open ocean rather than living there full time

How Marine

pelagic bird
  • Specialized
8.4
seafowl
7.2
shorebird
3 3.7

Surface Forms

seafowl singular
seafowls plural

Morphology

seafowl = sea + fowl (transparent) = sea + fowl

The meaning is directly compositional: 'sea' + 'fowl' = birds associated with the sea.

Etymology

Seafowl is made from sea ('the ocean') and fowl ('bird'), so it means birds that live by the sea, such as gulls, pelicans, and albatrosses.