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Glite Dictionary
flashlight fish

flashlight fish

8.5
Small fish with a glowing light under its eye
  • noun
  • /ˈflæʃˌlaɪt fɪʃ/
translation icon : pez linterna
  • While diving at night, we spotted a school of flashlight fish glowing beneath the reef.

Examples

  • The flashlight fish glows in the dark.

  • The flashlight fish uses its luminous organ to attract prey in the darkness of the ocean.

  • Aquariums often feature the flashlight fish for its unique bioluminescent display.

  • Many flashlight fishes inhabit deep ocean waters.

  • Aquarists often display flashlight fish in tanks because of their captivating ability to produce light.

  • The flashlight fish uses its bioluminescent organ to attract prey in the dark depths of the ocean.

  • During our dive, we spotted a flashlight fish illuminating the water with its glowing eye.

Synonyms

Photoblepharon palpebratus
vsflashlight fish
  • Specialized
9.9

A deep-sea fish with a glowing light under each eye

is the general small tropical or deep sea fish type not a single species
Anomalops
vsflashlight fish
  • Specialized
9.9

A fish with glowing lights under its eyes

is the broader fish category including many such genera and species
Photoblepharon
vsflashlight fish
  • Specialized
9.9

A small reef fish with glowing lights under its eyes that uses them to find food at night

is the general small tropical or deep sea fish type not confined to reefs
Krypterophaneron
vsflashlight fish
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of deep-sea fish that make light

is the general small tropical or deep sea fish type not a named genus

Surface Forms

flashlight fish singular
flashlight fishes plural

Morphology

flashlight + fish

The meaning 'a fish with a light-producing organ' is directly derivable from combining 'flashlight' (a light-producing device) with 'fish' (a fish); the noun+noun compounding pattern in English typically describes a salient property of the head noun. A B1 learner who knows both constituents would reasonably infer that this is a fish that produces or shows light, so the expression is transparent.

Etymology

Flashlight fish gets its name from the bright light under its eye that looks like a tiny flashlight on the fish. That's why the name means 'a fish with a light under its eye'.