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esca

esca

9.9
A soft, glowing growth on an anglerfish used to attract prey
  • noun
  • /ˈɛskə/
  • Specialized
: esca
  • Scientists studied how the esca emits light to attract prey in darkness.

Examples

  • Without its esca, the anglerfish would struggle to catch food in the ocean depths.

  • The anglerfish uses its esca to lure unsuspecting prey.

  • The anglerfish waved its esca to entice smaller fish in the deep sea.

  • Did you see the esca of that anglerfish in the documentary?

  • The anglerfish waved its esca to entice smaller fish in the deep sea.

  • Scientists studied how the esca emits light to attract prey in darkness.

  • Without its esca, the anglerfish would struggle to catch food in the ocean depths.

How Bright

esca
  • Specialized
9.9
self-luminous
  • Specialized
1 8.4

Surface Forms

esca singular
escas plural

Etymology

Esca for the anglerfish's lure comes from an old Latin word esca meaning 'food' or 'bait', because the fish waves its bright lure like 'bait' to bring prey close.