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 notesIn plain EnglishA long-legged wading bird found near rivers, lakes, and marshes.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a grey heron
a heron wading in the shallows
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Word forms
- Plural
- herons
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.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for heron
See all rhymes for heron →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.
