ALL meanings of bittern
bit·tern
B b - noun bittern any wading bird of the genera Ixobrychus and Botaurus, related and similar to the herons but with shorter legs and neck, a stouter body, and a booming call: family Ardeidae, order Ciconiiformes 3
- noun bittern the bitter liquid remaining after common salt has been crystallized out of sea water: a source of magnesium, bromine, and iodine compounds 3
- noun bittern any of a subfamily (Botaurinae) of wading birds, including a genus (Botaurus) noted for the resounding, thumping call of the male 3
- noun bittern the bitter liquid left after the crystallization of salt from brine 3
- noun bittern variety of wading bird 1
- noun bittern a bitter solution remaining in salt making after the salt has crystallized out of seawater or brine, used as a source of bromides, iodides, and certain other salts. 1
- noun bittern Several bird species in the Botaurinae subfamily of the heron family Ardeidae. 0
- noun bittern The liquor remaining after halite (common salt) has been harvested from saline water (brine). 0
- noun bittern (archaic) A very bitter compound of quassia, cocculus indicus, etc., used by fraudulent brewers in adulterating beer. 0