gannet

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablebiology

   A large white seabird with black wingtips that dives from a height into the sea to catch fish.

   Grammar: Countable: a gannet, a colony of gannets.

   Patterns

   • a colony of gannets

   A gannet folded its wings and plunged into the waves.

   Thousands of gannets nest on the cliffs every summer.

   We watched a gannet dive for fish near the boat.

2. 2nouncountableinformalBritishhumorous

   A person who eats greedily or takes more than a fair share of something.

   Grammar: Countable, often used playfully: you gannet!

   Patterns

   • a gannet for something

   Don't be such a gannet; leave some cake for the others.

   My brother is a gannet at buffets.

   She ate the whole pizza, the little gannet.

Word forms

Common combinations

gannet colony

The gannet colony is a famous sight on the island.

a diving gannet

A diving gannet hit the water at high speed.

nesting gannets

Nesting gannets crowd the cliff ledges.

greedy gannet

You greedy gannet, you ate all the biscuits.

watch gannets

We went to watch gannets from the boat.

Synonyms and how they differ

seabird

Seabird is a broad word for any bird of the open sea, while gannet names one species type.

glutton

Glutton describes someone who eats too much and is stronger and less playful than gannet.

pig

Pig is more insulting and is used when someone eats messily or greedily.

hog

Hog is used as a verb as well, meaning to take more than your share.

Word family

gannetry noun

a place where gannets breed

seabird noun

a bird living mainly at sea

booby noun

a related tropical seabird

Commonly confused: gannet or gannets?

Practice

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