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noun

heron

HEH-ruhn

Heron (noun) means a tall wading bird with long legs, a long neck, and a spear-like bill, often seen standing still at the edge of water. Example: “A heron stood motionless in the shallows, waiting for a fish to swim past.”

noun
1
A tall wading bird with long legs, a long neck, and a spear-like bill, often seen standing still at the edge of water.
"A heron stood motionless in the shallows, waiting for a fish to swim past."

How to Use Heron

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA long-legged wading bird found near rivers, lakes, and marshes.

Common pairings
a grey heron a heron wading in the shallows

Word Forms

herons plural

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

A _____ stood motionless in the shallows, waiting for a fish to swim past.

Etymology

From Middle English heron, via Anglo-Norman heiron, tracing back to a Proto-Germanic root that is likely imitative of the bird's harsh screeching call.

Origin: Middle English

Related Words

Rhymes for heron

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “heron” mean?

The word “heron” means a tall wading bird with long legs, a long neck, and a spear-like bill, often seen standing still at the edge of water. In plain terms, a long-legged wading bird found near rivers, lakes, and marshes.

How do you pronounce “heron”?

“Heron” is pronounced HEH-ruhn (/ˈhɛɹən/ in IPA).

How do you use “heron” in a sentence?

Here is “heron” used in a sentence: “A heron stood motionless in the shallows, waiting for a fish to swim past.”

What part of speech is “heron”?

“Heron” is a noun.

Where does the word “heron” come from?

The word “heron” comes from Middle English. From Middle English heron, via Anglo-Norman heiron, tracing back to a Proto-Germanic root that is likely imitative of the bird's harsh screeching call.

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