cormorant
Americannoun
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any of several voracious, totipalmate seabirds of the family Phalacrocoracidae, as Phalacrocorax carbo, of America, Europe, and Asia, having a long neck and a distensible pouch under the bill for holding captured fish, used in China for catching fish.
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a greedy person.
noun
Etymology
Origin of cormorant
1300–50; Middle English cormera ( u ) nt < Middle French cormorant, Old French cormareng < Late Latin corvus marīnus sea-raven. See corbel, marine
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In 2018, there were also claims that Australians tried to rig the contest in favour of the shag - a species of cormorant.
From BBC • Sep. 16, 2024
One bird — a Brandt’s cormorant — that had oil on it died over the weekend.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2024
Every time people have messed with this cormorant colony, the situation has worsened — and the birds are in the crosshairs yet again.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 21, 2024
The ban could also benefit two other endangered seabirds, the Cape gannet and Cape cormorant, that also rely on sardine and anchovy as their primary food source, Waller says.
From Science Magazine • Aug. 17, 2023
On sunny days I would wear them with my cormorant dress and the necklace, and walk along the cliff with Rontu.
From "Island of the Blue Dolphins" by Scott O'Dell
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.