petrel

/'petrəl/

Thân thiện

A petrel glides low over the ocean waves.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A relatively small, long-winged seabird with tube-shaped nostrils, belonging to the family Procellariidae. Petrels are known for their ability to fly long distances over the open ocean, far from land.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The sailor spotted a lone petrel skimming the waves.
  • Petrels are often seen following ships in stormy weather.
  • The Wilson's storm petrel is one of the most abundant bird species in the world.

Advanced Usage

• "Stormy petrel": This phrase refers specifically to birds of the genus (storm petrels), which are often seen before storms. Figuratively, a "stormy petrel" is a person whose arrival or presence is thought to signal trouble or conflict.
  • The politician was considered a stormy petrel, as his speeches often sparked controversy.

Variants and Related Words

• Storm petrel (n): A specific group of small petrels (family Hydrobatidae) known for their fluttering flight close to the water's surface.
• Fulmar (n): A type of petrel in the genus .
• Shearwater (n): A related seabird in the same family (Procellariidae) as petrels, with similar long-winged, gliding flight.

Synonyms

• Tubenose: A general term for seabirds in the order Procellariiformes, which includes petrels, albatrosses, and shearwaters, named for their tubular nostrils.
• Seabird: A broad term for any bird that lives primarily on the ocean.

Related Phrases

• To follow like a petrel: To follow closely or persistently, akin to how petrels follow ships.
  • The paparazzi followed the celebrity like a petrel.

Related Idioms

• A stormy petrel: An idiom for a person who brings or foreshadows turmoil.
  • The new critic was a stormy petrel in the peaceful world of art history.

Học thuật

Noun

1. relatively small long-winged tube-nosed bird that flies far from land