What does "tara" mean?
The tern.
Tara
/ˈtɑːɹə/ intj, name, noun, slang
intj, name, noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The tern.
- Grammar: tara is listed as intj, name, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: astral body, celestial body, deity, divinity.
- Useful contrasts: atheist, family name, non deity.
- Usage evidence: "Where's Tara?" "She's taking a shower."
How to use "tara"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "tara" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "tara" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "tara" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "tara" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "tara" is acting as intj, name, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "astral body" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "tara", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The tern. New-Zealand, rare
"These are Hine-karoro (origin and personification of the karoro, or black-billed gull), the next born being Hine-tara (the tara, or tern); the next is Hine-tore. The last born of that lot was Punga, the origin of[…]"
- 2 A small silver coin current in South India at the time of the arrival of the Portuguese. India
"The only silver coin of this empire reported so far is a Tara of the time of Pratāpa devaraya."
- 3 A plant native to Peru, the spiny holdback, Tara spinosa
"The pods of the tara plant are used to make tara gum and tara flour. The latter has been found to be an unapproved food additive."
Intj
- 1 Goodbye. Ireland, Midlands, Northern-England, UK, Wales, informal
"2004: Metro in This is London (website of London Evening Standard), Jolie says ta-ra to Lara - Pssst...Actress Angelina Jolie's days as Tomb Raider action hero Lara Croft are over."
Proper Noun
- 1 An Irish place name, associated with the Hill of Tara, seat of ancient Irish kings.
"No more to chiefs and ladies bright The harp of Tara swells"
- 2 A female Buddha typically associated with Buddhist tantra practice as preserved in Tibetan Buddhism. She is the "mother of liberation", and represents the virtues of success in work and achievements.
- 3 A surname.
- 4 A barangay of Bolinao, Pangasinan, Philippines.
- 5 An Irish place name, associated with the Hill of Tara, seat of ancient Irish kings.; A small settlement in County Meath, Ireland, near the Hill of Tara (Irish grid ref N 9458)
Show 12 more definitions
- 6 A female given name from Sanskrit.
- 7 A barangay of Coron, Palawan, Philippines.
- 8 A female given name transferred from the place name, of 20th century and later usage.
"Many had already taken out loans and purchased equipment in preparation for the program’s continuation, said Tara Roberts-Turner, general manager of the Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative (WFHC), a farmer-led distribution network serving more than 400 farmers and the state’s largest food hub."
- 9 A barangay of Sipocot, Camarines Sur, Philippines.
- 10 A male given name.
"the story of Tara Cochrane, a war veteran, a physician, and a burned-out man who describes himself in terms of a bad cigarette"
- 11 A barangay of Mabinay, Negros Oriental, Philippines.
- 12 Some other places named Tara, all likely after the Irish hill:; A community in Arran-Elderslie municipality, Bruce County, Ontario, Canada.
- 13 Some other places named Tara, all likely after the Irish hill:; An unincorporated community in Manatee County, Florida, United States.
- 14 Some other places named Tara, all likely after the Irish hill:; A township in Swift County, Minnesota, United States.
- 15 Some other places named Tara, all likely after the Irish hill:; A township in Traverse County, Minnesota.
- 16 Some other places named Tara, all likely after the Irish hill:; A locality in the Temora council area, central New South Wales, Australia.
- 17 Some other places named Tara, all likely after the Irish hill:; A town in the Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
""Where's Tara?" "She's taking a shower.""
Common questions
What is a synonym for "tara"?
Common synonyms include: astral body, celestial body, deity, divinity, feminine name, first name.
How do you use "tara" in a sentence?
"Where's Tara?" "She's taking a shower."
How do you pronounce "tara"?
Pronounced /ˈtɑːɹə/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Borrowed from Irish Teamhrach, genitive of Teamhair, from Old Irish Temair (literally “high place”). The female given name is derived from the name of the plantation in Gone with the Wind, named for the place in Ireland.
Etymology 2
From Sanskrit तारा (tārā, “star”).
Etymology 3
Possibly from Irish tabhair aire (“take care”).
Etymology 4
Borrowed from Māori tara (“tern”).
Etymology 5
Borrowed from Spanish tara, ultimately from Quechua tara.