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Glite Dictionary
goosander

goosander

9.9
A large diving duck that eats fish and has a long thin bill with tooth-like edges
  • noun
  • /ˈɡuːˌsændər/
  • UK
translation icon : merganso
  • We watched a pair of goosanders dive beneath the surface of the lake for fish.

Examples

  • The male goosander has a striking white body and a dark green head.

  • I spotted a goosander swimming in the lake.

  • During winter, flocks of goosander can be seen on rivers across northern Europe.

  • Look at that goosander diving for fish!

  • During winter, flocks of goosander can be seen on rivers across northern Europe.

  • We watched a pair of goosanders dive beneath the surface of the lake for fish.

  • The male goosander has a striking white body and a dark green head.

Synonyms

merganser
vsgoosander
1 9.9

A large diving duck with a crest on its head and a narrow hooked bill that eats fish

is the specific species rather than the general group term
Mergus merganser
vsgoosander
  • Specialized
9.8

A large duck that eats fish and lives by cold rivers in Europe and North America

is the common English name used in everyday speech rather than the binomial
Mergus merganser americanus
vsgoosander
  • Specialized
9.9

A North American diving duck with a long thin bill that catches fish

is the broader species name covering both European and North American forms
American merganser
vsgoosander
  • US
7.0

A large diving duck in North America that hunts fish in lakes and rivers

is the wider species term found in both Europe and North America
fish duck
vsgoosander
  • US
7.8

A large diving duck with a crest and a thin hooked bill for catching fish

is the particular species name used for the exact large fish-eating duck
sea duck
vsgoosander
5.8

A large diving bird that lives by the sea and dives for food

is the single species term rather than a broad coastal duck category

Surface Forms

goosander singular
goosanders plural

Morphology

goosander = goose (semi-transparent) = goose + sander

The element 'goose' signals a waterbird, but the component 'sander' is not a productive modern morpheme and the specific identity (a merganser/duck) is not directly derivable by learners.

Etymology

Goosander combines goose and an old part sander, a name once used for diving ducks, so it sounds like a goose-like bird that dives. So the name helps you remember it is a large, goose-like duck that 'dives' for fish.