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fish

fish

∞ 1.0
An animal that lives in water, breathes with gills, and has fins and scales
  • noun
  • /fɪʃ/
: pez
  • I just caught this fish on a giant swim bait.
  • fish farm
  • fish species
  • cartilaginous fish

And for example, the fish and the amphibians.

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Examples

  • The fisherman was proud of the large fish he caught during his trip to the lake.

  • If I have caught a fish, I stop and go home.

  • Think of it as a big fish eating a little fish.

  • I know the smell of fish when I smell it.

  • You know, bees come in swarms and fish come in schools.

  • Think of a heavily fished lake; few fish survive to grow to full size.

    Academic text (2011)
  • She hollered out just when I was about to spear me a fish, a big fish.

  • Many people enjoy eating fish because it is a healthy source of protein.

  • At the aquarium, we saw various types of fish swimming in colorful coral reefs.

Synonyms

shark
vsfish
575 1.0

A large sea fish with sharp teeth that eats other animals

is the general cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate group, not the cartilaginous predatory type
tuna
vsfish
254 1.0

A large, fast sea fish often eaten fresh or canned

is the broad cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate group, not a single food species
salmon
vsfish
104 1.0

A large fish born in rivers that lives in the sea and returns to lay eggs

is the broad cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate group, not the migratory food species
trout
vsfish
99 1.0

A freshwater fish like a salmon that people often eat

is the broad cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate class, not that specific food species
eel
vsfish
65 1.0

A long, thin fish with a snake-like body that lives in rivers or the sea

is the general cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate group, not the elongated body type
catfish
vsfish
54 1.0

A fish with whisker-like feelers often eaten as food

is the broad cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate category, not the barbelled type
tuna fish
vsfish
33 1.0

A large sea fish that people often eat fresh, grilled or canned

is the general cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate group, not that single seafood species
cod
vsfish
30 1.0

A large sea fish with spots that lives in cold waters

is the general cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate category rather than one species
herring
vsfish
30 1.4

A small silver fish often eaten smoked, salted, or pickled

is the general cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate category, not a particular species
perch
vsfish
9 4.2

A freshwater fish with sharp fins that lives in lakes and rivers

is the general cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate group, not that spiny species
codfish
vsfish
4 1.1

A large fish that lives in cold seas and has white meat people eat

is the broad cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate group, not that single species
monkfish
vsfish
4 6.3

A large sea fish with a flat, wide head and a big mouth

is the general cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate group, not the broad-headed food species
billfish
vsfish
1 7.5

Large fish that eat other fish and have a long pointed jaw like marlin or swordfish

is the general cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate group, not that beaked predator
dogfish
vsfish
  • Specialized
1 7.5

A small shark with a thin body and sharp spines on its fins

is the general cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate group, not the small coastal shark type
skate
vsfish
1 7.9

A large sea fish with wide flat fins often served as food

is the general cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate category, not the flattened ray family type
sunfish
vsfish
1 5.9

A very large ocean fish with a round flat body and tall fins that lives in warm seas

is the general cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate group, not that unusually shaped species
pipefish
vsfish
  • Specialized
1 8.1

A long thin fish with a tube-shaped snout and hard plates on its body

is the general cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate group, not the tubular-snouted plated type
kingfish
vsfish
  • US
1 4.2

A large sea fish that people eat and catch for sport

is the broad cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate category rather than a regional food species
lungfish
vsfish
  • Specialized
1 7.2

A fresh water fish that has lungs and gills and can breathe air

is the cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate that breathes mainly through gills
bony fish
vsfish
  • Specialized
1 3.7

A fish with a skeleton made mainly of bone, like a salmon or goldfish

is the broad cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate not limited by bone skeletons
1 4.6

A small colorful tropical sea fish with a flat body and wide fins, often near coral reefs

is the general cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate group rather than that decorative tropical species
frogfish
vsfish
1 8.8

A sea fish with a mouth like a frog and a small lure on its nose to attract fish

is the broad cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate group, not the ambush predator with a lure
finfish
vsfish
1 3.4

A fish with fins, not a shellfish

is the general cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate defined by gill breathing and backbone
sea trout
vsfish
  • US
1 3.8

A coastal fish in North America that looks like trout and lives near shore

is the general cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate category rather than that coastal type
icefish
vsfish
  • Australian
1 9.1

A fish that lives in very cold Antarctic waters and has almost transparent blood

is the broad cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate group, not the cold-adapted southern species
boxfish
vsfish
1 7.9

A small tropical fish with a hard, box-shaped body found in warm sea waters

is the broad cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate group, not the plated body type
frost fish
vsfish
  • Australian
9.9

A long thin sea fish with no scales and sharp teeth that lives in deep water

is the general cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate group, not the slender scaleless type

Idioms

12 6.5

To have more important things to do than this matter

cold fish
  • Offensive
6 7.6

A person who is distant and not friendly

kettle of fish
  • Informal
4 8.6

A difficult situation that causes trouble

2 8.8

Choose to act now or step aside so someone else can

2 5.5

An important person in a small group who has more power than elsewhere

2 7.1

To have more important things to do now

1 7.7

A situation very different from the one just mentioned

1 8.1

Not clearly one thing or another so people cannot decide what it is

To say that something is completely unnecessary

what the fish
  • Informal
1 9.9

An informal phrase people say to show surprise or disbelief

People like different things

A funny way to say goodbye when leaving a group

Compounds

33 1.0

A large sea fish that people often eat fresh, grilled or canned

big fish
  • Informal
29 3.6

An important person in a group or organization who has power

26 1.5

A glass box that holds water for keeping live fish

23 1.0

A long thin piece of fish covered in breadcrumbs and fried or baked

12 1.0

A hot meal of fried fish and potatoes often sold to take away

12 2.7

A liquid from oily fish that people take as a health supplement

fish fry
  • Informal
9 2.8

A meal where people eat fried fish together, often outdoors

8 2.7

A place where people raise fish in tanks or ponds for food

7 3.0

A simple card game for two or more players where they ask for cards to make sets of four

6 9.3

A traditional Jewish dish of cooked balls made from ground fish mixed with eggs and breadcrumbs

4 3.8

A tropical sea fish with large fins that glides above water

A water animal that lives in rivers or lakes and people eat

3 2.0

A slice of fish without bones cut lengthwise for cooking

3 2.0

A small fried patty made from flaked fish mixed with potatoes

3 2.8

A small fake bait made of plastic or metal to attract fish

3 4.6

A situation where many people watch you and you have no privacy

3 1.1

A small flat piece on a fish's body that protects its skin

2 1.4

A clear round container to keep small pet fish

2 4.5

A small table knife with a wide flat blade used for eating fish

2 1.0

A long thin piece of fish covered in breadcrumbs and fried or baked

2 1.1

A dish of fish cooked slowly in liquid with vegetables and spices

game fish
  • Specialized
2 5.0

A fish that people catch for sport, not for food or money

A US government agency that protects wild animals, fish, and their habitats

Meat from fish that live in the sea and people eat

fish meal
  • Specialized
1 3.5

A ground, dried fish product used as fertilizer or animal feed

sport fish
  • Specialized
1 3.4

A fish people catch for fun because it fights when hooked

1 3.7

A small bright freshwater fish often kept in aquariums

1 8.6

A small insect near water whose young are used for fishing bait

1 6.7

A small bright tropical fish that lives among the stinging arms of sea anemones

A sea fish with a pointed body and spines that give a painful sting

1 2.1

A fish that people catch or farm to eat

bony fish
  • Specialized
1 3.7

A fish with a skeleton made mainly of bone, like a salmon or goldfish

1 3.4

A small shelter people use for ice fishing on a frozen lake

A small colorful tropical sea fish with a flat body and wide fins, often near coral reefs

loose fish
  • Informal
1 9.9

A person who feels out of place in a group

1 1.0

A salad made from canned tuna mixed with mayonnaise and chopped vegetables like celery or onion

1 3.9

A large bird that catches fish and often builds big nests near water

1 2.7

A thick soup made with fish, potatoes, and milk or cream

fish ladder
  • Specialized
1 5.0

A set of pools and steps that help fish swim past a dam

razor fish
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A small colorful fish with a thin body and sharp head that lives near coral reefs

fish louse
  • Specialized
1 9.5

A small animal that lives on fish and eats their blood or skin

1 7.4

A deep sea fish with a large mouth and a glowing lure on its head to attract prey

1 4.9

A large hawk that catches fish, for example an osprey

A United States government agency that protects wild animals, plants and their homes

worm fish
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A small, long tropical fish that lives in shallow water and hides in seagrass

1 4.6

A fish that lives near the sea floor, like cod or haddock

1 6.7

A small to medium fish that lives in shallow water near Pacific coast beaches in North America

teleost fish
  • Specialized
1 7.4

A bony fish with a jaw that can move and a symmetrical tail, like salmon or goldfish

1 2.4

A restaurant that serves mostly cooked fish and seafood

queer fish
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A person who seems strange to other people

fish doctor
  • Specialized
1 8.9

A brightly colored fish with no scales that lives in cold northern waters

1 5.6

A baked loaf of fish mixed with breadcrumbs and seasonings

cichlid fish
  • Specialized
1 7.0

A colorful freshwater fish from warm regions that people often keep in fish tanks

1 1.9

A thick slice of a large fish cut across the body to cook and eat

1 2.6

A small round piece of fish cooked and eaten as a snack or in soup

cartilaginous fish
  • Specialized
1 6.8

A fish whose skeleton is made of soft cartilage not bone

1 9.9

A small fish that lives among oysters and shells in shallow sea water

rough fish
  • Jargon
1 8.1

A fish people do not want to eat, catch, or use as bait

A small, oddly shaped fish that lives among floating brown seaweed

1 3.0

A building where people clean, prepare, store, or sell fish

lobe-finned fish
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A fish with thick, fleshy fins that look like small limbs, including living and fossil kinds

Small fish with a glowing light under its eye

A large tropical fish with bold dark stripes that lives near coasts and reefs and is often caught for food

1 9.5

A large bright fish with spiny fins that lives on coral reefs in warm seas

1 6.5

A light creamy dish that blends cooked fish with cream and eggs, often served as a starter

croaker fish
  • Specialized
1 6.9

A fish that lives near the shore and makes a croaking sound

fish glue
  • Specialized
1 7.5

A sticky glue made by boiling fish skins and bones for woodworking and bookbinding

odd fish
  • Informal
1 8.2

A person who behaves in a strange or unusual way

A fish that lives near the bottom of lakes, rivers, or the sea

A fatty oil from fish livers used to give vitamins A and D

1 8.9

A large fresh water fish with a mouth like a sucker from the Mississippi valley

fish brain
  • Offensive
1 9.0

A person who often forgets things and is not careful

jawless fish
  • Specialized
1 7.0

Fish like lampreys and hagfish that do not have jaws or paired fins

How Big

shark
575 1.0
tuna
254 1.0
salmon
104 1.0
trout
99 1.0
fish
∞ 1.0
sardine
60 1.3
minnow
14 4.2

Surface Forms

fish singular
fishes plural

Etymology

Fish (the animal) comes from an old German word fisc meaning 'fish', and the same root appears in words like fisherman, which is why fish names the water creature people catch and eat.