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Glite Dictionary
Larus marinus

Larus marinus

9.6
A large white sea bird with a black back and wings on North Atlantic coasts
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : gaviota de patas negras
  • The Larus marinus is known for its powerful build and aggressive behavior toward other seabirds.

Examples

  • The Larus marinus is often seen near fishing boats.

  • Birdwatchers traveled to the bay to observe the rare sighting of a Larus marinus.

  • A Larus marinus was spotted on the rocky coastline, towering over other gulls.

  • Look! A Larus marinus!

  • A Larus marinus was spotted on the rocky coastline, towering over other gulls.

  • Birdwatchers traveled to the bay to observe the rare sighting of a Larus marinus.

  • The Larus marinus is known for its powerful build and aggressive behavior toward other seabirds.

Synonyms

great black-backed gull
vsLarus marinus
  • UK
8.1

A large white sea bird with black back and wings found on North Atlantic coasts

is the scientific name used for that same North Atlantic species
black-backed gull
vsLarus marinus
7.5

A large white sea bird with a black back and wings that lives by the coast

is limited to the North Atlantic coast rather than the broader northern range

Surface Forms

Larus marinus singular
Larus marini plural

Morphology

Larus + marinus

This is a scientific Latin binomial (taxonomic name) rather than a compositional English phrase: 'Larus' is a genus label and 'marinus' is not an ordinary English word (no dictionary definition provided). A B1 learner who knows common English vocabulary would not reliably derive the specific meaning 'great black-backed gull' from these Latin constituents, so the expression is effectively opaque.

Etymology

Larus marinus comes from Latin words: Larus meaning 'gull' and marinus meaning 'of the sea'. People on the coast saw a very large, black-backed gull and named it for its sea home, so the name now refers to this big sea gull found along the coast.