cormorant

noun
cor·​mo·​rant | \ ˈkȯrm-rənt How to pronounce cormorant (audio) , ˈkȯr-mə-, ˈkȯr-mə-ˌrant\

Definition of cormorant

1 : any of various dark-colored web-footed waterbirds (family Phalacrocoracidae, especially genus Phalacrocorax) that have a long neck, hooked bill, and distensible throat pouch
2 : a gluttonous, greedy, or rapacious person

Illustration of cormorant

Illustration of cormorant

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of cormorant in a Sentence

Diamond Jim Brady was perhaps the most celebrated cormorant of the Gilded Age.

Recent Examples on the Web

If the Port of Tyne became a free port, enthuses Matt Beeton, its chief executive, more firms would move into space currently occupied by weeds and cormorants. The Economist, "What free ports can and can’t achieve," 8 Aug. 2019 Plymouth County: Observers at Manomet Center for Conservation Science found three great cormorants and a horned grebe. BostonGlobe.com, "Bird sightings," 4 Aug. 2019 Hello, double crested cormorants, and welcome to another edition of This Week in Timothée Chalamet. Cady Drell, Marie Claire, "This Week in Timothée Chalamet, Week of August 2," 2 Aug. 2019 Westport: There was a black skimmer and a great cormorant reported at Gooseberry Neck. BostonGlobe.com, "Bird sightings across the region," 13 July 2019 Peruvian pelicans are one of three species of guano birds (along with the Peruvian booby and the Guanay cormorant) that populate Peru's coast. Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, "New study takes a bird’s-eye view of the Nasca Lines," 20 June 2019 As the boat passed a small island, an African fish eagle was seen nested near a cacophonous gathering of cormorants. Benedict Moran, National Geographic, "Rwanda's war nearly destroyed this park. Now it's coming back.," 7 May 2019 Seagulls soar overhead, cormorants dive like missiles for fish, ducks paddle bravely near the barnacled rocks and the occasional seal wanders by. James R. Carroll, USA TODAY, "Cape Ann, Massachusetts: A charming alternative to Cape Cod with sandy beaches and fried clams," 3 June 2019 It was moored at the end of a long dock in a busy marina with views of rocks bristling with cormorants, seagulls screeching overhead, and a bevy of ducks that arrived each morning for their share of the toast. Tara Conklin, Vogue, "After Divorce, Floating Another Chance at Love," 6 Feb. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cormorant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of cormorant

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for cormorant

Middle English cormeraunt, from Middle French cormorant, from Old French cormareng, from corp raven + marenc of the sea, from Latin marinus — more at corbel, marine

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for cormorant

cormorant

noun

English Language Learners Definition of cormorant

: a type of dark-colored bird that has a long neck and that eats fish that it catches in the ocean

cormorant

noun
cor·​mo·​rant | \ ˈkȯr-mə-rənt How to pronounce cormorant (audio) \

Kids Definition of cormorant

: a black seabird with webbed feet, a long neck, and a slender hooked beak

Keep scrolling for more