noun
tarn
tahn
noun
1
A small mountain lake, especially one formed in a hollow left by a glacier.
"They hiked up to a tarn tucked below the ridge."
"The tarn was still and dark under the cliffs."
How to Use Tarn
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small lake high up in the mountains, common in words describing UK landscapes like the Lake District.
Common pairings
mountain tarn
glacial tarn
Word Forms
tarns plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “tarn”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
They hiked up to a _____ tucked below the ridge.
Etymology
From Old Norse tjǫrn, meaning a small lake with no streams feeding into it.