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Glite Dictionary
mirror carp

mirror carp

6.9
A type of carp with few large shiny scales that people keep in ponds for food or decoration
  • noun
  • /ˈmɪrər kɑrp/
  • Specialized
translation icon : carpa espejo
  • It was a mirror carp of over twenty pounds and, to me, a very good fish.

Examples

  • The restaurant featured a special dish made with mirror carp, praising its delicate flavor.

  • In her garden pond, she introduced a mirror carp for its vibrant appearance and playful nature.

  • The angler proudly displayed the mirror carp he caught during the summer fishing trip.

Synonyms

carp
vsmirror carp
21 2.4

A large freshwater fish often kept in garden ponds or eaten as food

is a specific bred form with a few large shiny scales
koi
vsmirror carp
11 4.2

A bright, patterned fish often kept in garden ponds for decoration

is a different bred variety noted for few large shiny scales
domestic carp
vsmirror carp
4.3

A large freshwater fish kept for food or as decoration, like koi

is a bred variety with few large shiny scales
Cyprinus carpio
vsmirror carp
  • Specialized
7.0

A large freshwater fish often kept for food or sport fishing

is a bred form distinguished by few large shiny scales

Surface Forms

mirror carp singular
mirror carps plural

Morphology

mirror + carp

The compound is compositional: 'mirror' functions as an attributive modifier describing a visible, mirror-like quality of the fish's scales, and 'carp' names the fish. A B1 learner who knows 'mirror' (reflective/ shiny) and 'carp' (a type of fish) can infer this denotes a type of carp with shiny, mirror-like scales, so the meaning is transparently derived from the parts.

Etymology

Mirror carp gets its name from the fish's large, shiny 'scales' that look like small mirrors. Mirror points to those bright 'scales' and carp names the type of 'fish', so the whole name tells you it is a 'fish' with mirror-like 'scales'.