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Glite Dictionary
family Sparidae

family Sparidae

8.3
A group of sea fish like porgies or scups that live in warm and cool waters
  • noun
  • Specialized
: familia Sparidae
  • Many fish in the family Sparidae, like scup and porgy, are often found in coastal waters.

Examples

  • The family Sparidae contains many species prized for their flavor.

  • Most members of the family Sparidae are found in shallow temperate waters.

  • She studied the anatomy of several fish in the family Sparidae.

  • The family Sparidae includes various species of fish.

  • Did you know the family Sparidae is known for its tasty fish?

  • The family Sparidae includes species that are popular with both commercial and recreational fishers.

  • Researchers found that the family Sparidae plays a crucial role in marine ecosystems.

Synonyms

Sparidae
vsfamily Sparidae
  • Specialized
9.9

A family of sea fish like porgies or scups with flat sides and strong teeth

focuses on where they live in temperate and tropical waters rather than anatomy

Surface Forms

family Sparidae singular
families Sparidae plural

Morphology

family + Sparidae

This is a straightforward taxonomic noun phrase: combining 'family' (a scientific grouping) with the proper name 'Sparidae' yields 'the taxonomic family called Sparidae (porgies)'. Taxonomic constructions are compositional and cross-linguistically regular, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Family Sparidae may come from the old Greek word 'sparis', which named a type of sea fish, so the name simply marked that kind of fish. Today family Sparidae is the group name for sea fish often called 'porgies' or 'scups', many of which are eaten for their good taste.