black swan


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black swan

n
1. (Animals) a large Australian swan, Cygnus atratus, that has a black plumage and red bill
2. a phenomenon that occurs even though it had been thought to be impossible
[sense 2 from the fact all swans were thought to be white until black swans were discovered in Australia]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.black swan - large Australian swan having black plumage and a red billblack swan - large Australian swan having black plumage and a red bill
Cygnus atratus
swan - stately heavy-bodied aquatic bird with very long neck and usually white plumage as adult
genus Cygnus, Cygnus - a genus of Anatidae
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
cisne negro
mustajoutsen
cygne noir
svartsvanur
cigno nero
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References in classic literature ?
That is, madam, as much as to say, `A rare bird upon the earth, and very like a black swan.' The verse is in Juvenal.
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Poulter, who was understood by the company at the Black Swan to have once struck terror into the hearts of the French, was no longer personally formidable.
Poulter twenty minutes longer than usual at the Black Swan, the sword was brought,--just for Tom to look at.
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Some fanciers caught at the idea without believing it practicable, but such is the power of imagination among florists, that although considering the undertaking as certain to fail, all their thoughts were engrossed by that great black tulip, which was looked upon to be as chimerical as the black swan of Horace or the white raven of French tradition.
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"Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday to-morrow," it said.
The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no distance from the station, and there we found the young lady waiting for us.
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Such a bustle ensued that you might have thought a goose the rarest of all birds; a feathered phenomenon, to which a black swan was a matter of course -- and in truth it was something very like it in that house.
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The existing infrastructure that will be utilized by Black Swan includes the AltaGas liquids pipelines from Townsend to North Pine and fractionation and terminaling at North Pine.
Black Swan Energy to Sell 50% Stake in NG Processing Plants
The Black Swan at Oldstead, North Yorkshire has landed the global title in the TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards.
Best restaurant in the world is on our doorstep
It's in helmsley that wellknown chef Alan O'Kane, from Sunderland, has been - since March this year - showing offhis not inconsiderable culinary talents at the acclaimed Black Swan hotel.
Home, cooking; Well-known chef Alan O'Kane has returned to his northern roots with stars in his eyes, after experiencing life at Surrey's favourite playground, Foxhills. JANE HALL caught up with him

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