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Glite Dictionary
storm petrel

storm petrel

8.8
A small seabird with dark feathers and pale belly that flies over the sea near storms
  • noun
  • /stɔrm ˈpɛtrəl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : pájaro de tormenta
  • During our boat trip, we spotted a storm petrel darting across the sea surface, searching for food.

Examples

  • The storm petrel glided gracefully over the ocean waves, a sign that a storm was approaching.

  • Here was her storm petrel: strong and beautiful, but a sure sign of the whirlwind to come.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Found there are also Kittiwake gulls, Common murres, Razorbills, Leach's storm petrels, and Herring gulls, among other species.

    Academic text (2010)

  • The presence of a storm petrel usually indicates turbulent weather conditions in the area.

Synonyms

petrel
vsstorm petrel
1 9.6

A small sea bird with long wings that flies far from land

is more specific, referring to small storm-linked seabirds with darker plumage
Mother Carey's chicken
vsstorm petrel
  • UK
1 9.9

A small seabird that flies low over the sea and often appears before storms

is the general name used for these seabirds across regions
Mother Carey's hen
vsstorm petrel
  • UK
9.9

A small seabird that flies low over the sea, often near storms

is the standard general name for that seabird
stormy petrel
vsstorm petrel
9.8

A small dark seabird with white marks that flies low over the sea in storms

is broader, naming small storm-associated seabirds rather than that single type

Surface Forms

storm petrel singular
storm petrels plural

Morphology

storm + petrel

The meaning is directly compositional: 'storm' + 'petrel' denotes a type of petrel associated with storms, so a learner who knows 'storm' and 'petrel' can infer it is a seabird seen in stormy conditions. This follows a common noun–noun compounding pattern found across languages, making the sense predictable for a B1 learner.

Etymology

Storm petrel comes from sailors' stories: these tiny seabirds often appear before bad weather, so storm links to rough seas. One popular story says petrel comes from the birds seeming to 'run' or dance across the water when they take off, and that vivid image explains why the name connects the bird with storms.