cerne

dark ring (under eye)

noun SEHRN Rare

Also means

ring (around tree)

Usage Note

Cerne most commonly appears in the plural cernes referring to the dark circles under tired eyes (avoir des cernes). In botany it means the annual growth ring of a tree. The related verb cerner means 'to encircle' or 'to identify precisely' (cerner le problème).

Examples

"Elle a de gros cernes ce matin."

Natural Translation

She has big dark circles this morning.

Literal Translation

She has big dark-rings this morning.

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