Tern n.  Zool. Any one of numerous species of long-winged aquatic birds, allied to the gulls, and belonging to Sterna and various allied genera.
 Note: ☞ Terns differ from gulls chiefly in their graceful form, in their weaker and more slender bills and feet, and their longer and more pointed wings. The tail is usually forked. Most of the species are white with the back and wings pale gray, and often with a dark head. The common European tern (Sterna hirundo) is found also in Asia and America. Among other American species are the arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea), the roseate tern (Sterna Dougalli), the least tern (Sterna Antillarum), the royal tern (Sterna maxima), and the sooty tern (Sterna fuliginosa).
 Hooded tern. See Fairy bird, under Fairy.
 Marsh tern, any tern of the genus Hydrochelidon. They frequent marshes and rivers and feed largely upon insects.
 River tern, any tern belonging to Seena or allied genera which frequent rivers.
 Sea tern, any tern of the genus Thalasseus. Terns of this genus have very long, pointed wings, and chiefly frequent seas and the mouths of large rivers.
 Fair·y, a.
 1. Of or pertaining to fairies.
 2. Given by fairies; as, fairy money.
 Fairy bird Zool., the Euoropean little tern (Sterna minuta); -- called also sea swallow, and hooded tern.
 Fairy bluebird. Zool. See under Bluebird.
 Fairy martin Zool., a European swallow (Hirrundo ariel) that builds flask-shaped nests of mud on overhanging cliffs.
 Fairy rings or Fairy circles, the circles formed in grassy lawns by certain fungi (as Marasmius Oreades), formerly supposed to be caused by fairies in their midnight dances; also, the mushrooms themselves.  Such circles may have diameters larger than three meters.
 Fairy shrimp Zool., a European fresh-water phyllopod crustacean (Chirocephalus diaphanus); -- so called from its delicate colors, transparency, and graceful motions. The name is sometimes applied to similar American species.
 Fairy stone Paleon., an echinite.
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