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Glite Dictionary
wolf fish

wolf fish

8.6
A large sea fish with strong teeth that lives in cold northern waters
  • noun
  • /wʊlf fɪʃ/
  • UK
translation icon : pez lobo
  • The wolf fish is known for its powerful jaws and fearsome appearance.

Examples

  • The wolf fish is known for its fierce appearance.

  • The restaurant served grilled wolf fish as a local seafood specialty.

  • Fishermen in Iceland often catch wolf fish in the cold northern waters.

  • Many fishermen seek the wolf fish for its strong taste.

  • The wolf fish is known for its sharp teeth and ability to thrive in frigid Atlantic waters.

  • Divers often encounter the wolf fish, which can be quite formidable due to its size and strong bite.

  • While exploring the icy depths, we spotted a wolf fish lurking among the rocks.

Synonyms

wolffish
vswolf fish
  • UK
9.9

A large sea fish with strong teeth that lives in cold deep water

is the same meaning but written as two words
Macrozoarces americanus
vswolf fish
  • Specialized
9.9

A large sea fish called the Atlantic wolfish that lives off northeastern North America

is broader, referring to the same large deep northern predator across the North Atlantic

Surface Forms

wolf fish singular
wolf fishes plural

Morphology

wolf + fish

The compound 'wolf fish' is compositionally transparent: a B1 learner who knows 'wolf' and 'fish' can infer it refers to a type of fish with wolf-like, predatory characteristics (large, strong-toothed). This type of animal-naming pattern is common cross-linguistically and follows straightforward noun + noun compounding, so the overall meaning is readily derivable from its parts.

Etymology

Wolf fish gets its name because wolf shows its big, strong teeth and fierce look, and fish shows it lives in the sea. So, the name came to mean 'a large, fierce sea fish with strong jaws'.