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hairy molly

hairy molly

9.1
A small freshwater fish that has fine hair-like fins and lives in tanks
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : molly peluda
  • Many aquatic enthusiasts recommend the hairy molly for beginner aquarium setups.

Examples

  • The children crowded around the tank to observe the brightly colored hairy molly.

  • She added a hairy molly to her collection of tropical fish.

  • The hairy molly is a popular choice for aquarists.

  • Have you ever seen a hairy molly up close?

  • Aquarium owners often praise the hairy molly for its vibrant colors and active behavior.

  • The hairy molly is known for its delicate, hair-like features that add beauty to any tank.

  • When setting up an aquarium, adding a hairy molly can enhance the tank's aesthetic appeal.

Synonyms

hairy molly fish
vshairy molly
  • Specialized
8.2

A small freshwater fish with short stiff hairs on its fins often kept in aquariums

is the shorter common name used without the animal word

Surface Forms

hairy molly singular
hairy mollies plural

Morphology

hairy + molly

The meaning is directly compositional: 'hairy' modifies 'molly' to indicate a molly fish with hair-like features, so a learner who knows both words can reliably infer this meaning. This follows a basic adjective + noun pattern common across languages, making the expression immediately comprehensible to B1 learners.

Etymology

Hairy molly may come from the fish's look: some small freshwater 'mollies' grow very thin, 'hair-like' threads on their fins or body, so people began calling them a hairy molly. That's why today hairy molly means a kind of aquarium 'fish' with fine hair-like features.