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Hippoglossus hippoglossus

Hippoglossus hippoglossus

9.9
A large flat fish from the North Atlantic that people eat
  • noun
  • /ˌhɪpəˈɡlɒsəs ˌhɪpəˈɡlɒsəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : hipogloso atlántico
  • Commercial fishing of Hippoglossus hippoglossus has declined due to overfishing in the North Atlantic.

Examples

  • The Hippoglossus hippoglossus can grow to impressive sizes, weighing several hundred pounds.

  • Marine biologists track Hippoglossus hippoglossus populations to monitor ocean health.

  • The chef prepared a delicious dish with Hippoglossus hippoglossus.

  • Many restaurants serve Hippoglossus hippoglossus during the summer.

  • Many restaurants serve Hippoglossus hippoglossus as a gourmet dish, praised for its rich flavor.

  • The Hippoglossus hippoglossus can grow to impressive sizes, reaching lengths of up to ten feet.

  • Commercial fishing of Hippoglossus hippoglossus has increased in recent years due to its popularity as a food fish.

Synonyms

halibut
vsHippoglossus hippoglossus
18 3.7

A large flat fish that lives in cold northern seas and is often eaten

refers specifically to the North Atlantic species rather than Pacific ones
Atlantic halibut
vsHippoglossus hippoglossus
5.0

A large flat fish that lives in the North Atlantic and is eaten for its firm white flesh

is the scientific name form rather than the common name

Surface Forms

Morphology

Hippoglossus + Hippoglossus

This is a scientific binomial formed from the genus name; a learner who knows 'Hippoglossus' as a genus of large flatfish can infer the expression refers to a type of fish, so there is some compositional cue. However, identifying the precise referent 'Atlantic halibut' requires taxonomic knowledge beyond ordinary word-combination rules and is not predictable for a B1 learner, so the expression is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Hippoglossus hippoglossus comes from Greek words: hippo meaning 'horse' and glossus meaning 'tongue', because the fish's long flat body looks a bit like a large tongue. That's why this Latin name is used for the big flatfish we call the Atlantic halibut today.