sleeper goby
- noun
- Australian
- In shallow tropical waters, the sleeper goby spends most of its time motionless near rocks.
Examples
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The aquarium has a beautiful sleeper goby resting on the sandy substrate.
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We spotted several sleeper gobies hidden among the aquatic plants during our dive.
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The sleeper goby is often found in coral reefs.
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Did you see the sleeper goby resting on the sand?
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In shallow tropical waters, the sleeper goby spends most of its time motionless near rocks.
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The aquarium has a beautiful sleeper goby resting on the sandy substrate.
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We spotted several sleeper gobies hidden among the aquatic plants during our dive.
Synonyms
1
6.7
An animal like a fish that lives and eats on the bottom of a lake, river, or sea
1
4.1
A fish that lives near the bottom of lakes, rivers, or the sea
A small fish that rests quietly on the bottom in shallow water
A fish that lives on the bottom of a tank or lake and stays still to catch prey
How Active
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly composed from 'sleeper' (one that lies still or rests) and 'goby' (a small fish), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer 'a goby that rests quietly on the bottom.' This is a literal noun-noun compound following common compositional patterns, making the overall sense immediately predictable.
Etymology
Sleeper goby: The compound noun sleeper goby comes from the fish's habit of lying very still on the sea bottom like a quiet sleeper. Because goby is the name for small bottom fish, the name means a goby that 'sleeps' on the bottom.