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Glite Dictionary
sea duck

sea duck

5.8
A large diving bird that lives by the sea and dives for food
  • noun
  • /siː dʌk/
translation icon : pato marino
  • The eider, one of the most recognizable sea ducks, is known for its striking coloration and impressive diving ability.

Examples

  • We were joined by ornithologist Norm Famous, who has been performing sea duck surveys in these waters for decades.

    Blog text (17)

  • Like many sea ducks, they become quite drab in winter—small grayish birds with white cheeks, bobbing on the waves.

    Blog text (17)

  • While birdwatching along the coast, we spotted several sea ducks diving for fish near the shoreline.

  • During the winter months, many sea ducks gather in groups, making them easier to observe from the pier.

Synonyms

diving duck
vssea duck
1 3.9

A duck that swims underwater to find food, often in lakes or bays

refers only to large coastal species among those that feed underwater

Surface Forms

sea duck singular
sea ducks plural

Morphology

sea + duck

The meaning 'a duck found along seacoasts' is directly and transparently composed from 'sea' (saltwater/coast) + 'duck' (aquatic bird), so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer it denotes a type of duck associated with the sea. This is a straightforward compound noun with cross-linguistic parallels, making the expression predictable rather than idiomatic.

Etymology

The name sea duck comes from a simple picture: these ducks live in and near the sea and dive into 'ocean' water to find food. So the words sea (where they live) and duck (the bird) together explain why the name means a duck that lives and dives in the sea.