great white heron

noun

1. a common egret of the genus Egretta found in America; it is a variety of the Old World white egret Casmerodius albus

• Syn: ↑American egret, ↑Egretta albus

• Hypernyms: ↑egret

• Member Holonyms: ↑Egretta, ↑genus Egretta

2. large white heron of Florida and the Florida Keys

• Syn: ↑Ardea occidentalis

• Hypernyms: ↑heron

• Member Holonyms: ↑Ardea, ↑genus Ardea

3. widely distributed Old World white egret

• Syn: ↑Casmerodius albus

• Hypernyms: ↑egret

• Member Holonyms: ↑Casmerodius, ↑genus Casmerodius, ↑Egretta, ↑genus Egretta

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noun

1. : a large white chiefly tropical egret (Casmerodius albus) that occurs in a number of varieties in both Old and New Worlds — compare american egret

2. : a large white heron (Ardea occidentalis) of Florida and Mexico

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1. a large white heron, Ardea occidentalis, of Florida and the Florida Keys.

2. a large white egret, Casmerodius albus, of southeastern Europe, tropical Africa, Asia, New Zealand, and America.

[1805-15]

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great white heron,

1. a large white heron with yellowish legs, found in southern Florida.

2. a cosmopolitan egret of tropical regions.