Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
European flatfish

European flatfish

4.1
A flat fish found in European seas that people eat
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : lenguado
  • Fishermen in the North Sea often catch European flatfish for local markets.

Examples

  • A traditional recipe calls for baking European flatfish with lemon and herbs.

  • The European flatfish is popular in many coastal restaurants.

  • The European flatfish is highly valued in many coastal cuisines.

  • Have you ever tried European flatfish?

  • A traditional recipe calls for baking European flatfish with lemon and herbs.

  • Fishermen in the North Sea often catch European flatfish for local markets.

  • The European flatfish is highly valued in many coastal cuisines.

Synonyms

sole
vsEuropean flatfish
4 6.5

A flat fish with both eyes on the right side commonly eaten in Europe

focuses on those found in European waters rather than worldwide
Solea solea
vsEuropean flatfish
  • Specialized
7.7

A flat sea fish often eaten as food in Europe

is broader, covering similar flatfish in European waters
European sole
vsEuropean flatfish
  • UK
7.0

A flat fish that lives in European waters and people eat as food

is the general label rather than the specific species term

Surface Forms

European flatfish singular
European flatfishes plural

Morphology

European + flatfish

The phrase is fully compositional: 'European' specifies the geographic origin of the head noun 'flatfish', so the meaning ('a flatfish from Europe') is directly derivable from the constituents. This modifier + head noun pattern is a basic, cross-linguistic noun phrase structure that a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand.

Etymology

European flatfish is a simple name: flatfish shows the fish's flat body that lies on one side, and European tells where it lives. So the name means a flat fish 'from Europe' that is often used as 'a food fish'.