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Glite Dictionary
triggerfish

triggerfish

1 8.4
A tropical sea fish with a deep body, rough skin, and a strong front fin spine it can lock
  • noun
  • /ˈtrɪɡərˌfɪʃ/
translation icon : pez gatillo
  • The vibrant triggerfish glided gracefully through the coral reef, showcasing its beautiful colors.

Examples

  • I want Major Crimes' cyber unit to use Triggerfish to find whatever communication devices they have on board.

    Ambulance (2022)

  • He washes it in the ocean; triggerfish come up and nibble at his fingers.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • The electric blue red-toothed triggerfish can reach up to half a meter in size in this spot, while the pyramid butterfly fish, with their yellow outer bodies and white bellies, gather in their hundreds.

    Blog text (3)

  • There are a variety of fish you can catch on this family charter fishing Gulf Shores vacation, such as triggerfish, red snapper, red porgy, vermillion snapper, and many, many more.

    Blog text (2)

  • Divers often observe the triggerfish defending its territory fiercely against intruders.

  • While snorkeling, I was excited to spot a triggerfish nestled among the rocks near the shore.

Synonyms

Balistidae
vstriggerfish
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of tropical sea fish like triggerfish with deep, thin bodies and tough skin

refers to a single deep-bodied tropical fish with a locking dorsal spine

Compounds

queen triggerfish
  • Specialized
9.9

A brightly colored tropical fish with a deep body and long spines on its top fin, often near coral reefs

Surface Forms

triggerfish singular
triggerfishes plural

Morphology

triggerfish = trigger + fish (semi-transparent) = trigger + fish

Formally a clear noun+noun compound, but the specific name is metaphorical (referring to a trigger-like dorsal spine), so learners may not infer the anatomical reference from components alone.

Etymology

Triggerfish comes from the common word trigger, because the fish has a sharp spine on its fin that it can 'lock' in place like a trigger on a tool or gun. That's why the name fits: the fish can lock its spine to stay stuck in a hole and protect itself.