cygnet
/'signit/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A young swan: A cygnet is a juvenile swan, specifically a swan in its first year of life before it attains full adult plumage.
Usage
- The word "cygnet" is used specifically to refer to the young of a swan. It is a precise zoological term.
- It is typically used in contexts related to nature, wildlife, birdwatching, and literature.
Examples
- Noun:
- The graceful swan was followed by three fluffy cygnets.
- We watched the cygnets learning to swim on the pond.
- In the story, the ugly duckling was actually a cygnet.
Advanced Usage
- Collective Reference: A group of cygnets is often called a brood or a clutch when with their parents.
- The pen (female swan) guarded her brood of cygnets closely.
Variants and Related Words
- Swan (n): The adult bird. A cygnet matures into a swan.
- Cob (n): An adult male swan.
- Pen (n): An adult female swan.
Synonyms
- Young swan: The direct descriptive synonym.
- Swanling: A less common, poetic synonym for a young swan.
Notes on Meaning
- The term is specific and does not apply to the young of other waterfowl (e.g., a young goose is a gosling).
- The transition from a gray/brown cygnet to a white adult swan is a common metaphor for transformation and realizing one's true potential.