spotted ray
- noun
- /ˈspɑtɪd reɪ/
:
raya moteada
- The aquarium's new exhibit features a spotted ray with striking yellow patterns on its back.
Examples
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Divers often spot a spotted ray gliding gracefully over sandy sea floors in tropical regions.
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Look at that spotted ray!
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A spotted ray can be identified by the distinctive white spots scattered across its dark skin.
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The spotted ray glided gracefully through the water.
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The spotted ray gracefully glided over the sandy ocean floor, its white spots shining in the sunlight.
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During our snorkeling trip, we saw a spotted ray swimming near the coral reef, its distinctive markings easy to identify.
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At the aquarium, the children were fascinated by the spotted ray as it floated serenely in the water, showcasing its beautiful patterns.
Synonyms
1
7.5
A large flat sea animal in warm water with long pointed fins and white spots on its back
A large ray with white or yellow spots that lives in warm seas
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun phrase 'spotted ray' is directly compositional: a B1 learner who knows 'spotted' (having spots) and 'ray' (the flat fish) can infer it refers to a ray with spots. The adjective+noun pattern is a basic, cross-linguistically common construction, so the meaning is immediately transparent from the constituents.
Etymology
Spotted ray comes from a simple picture: a ray, a flat sea fish, that is spotted with white or yellow dots on its back. That is why the name means 'a kind of ray with a back covered in white or yellow spots'.