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Glite Dictionary
anemone fish

anemone fish

1 6.7
A small bright tropical fish that lives among the stinging arms of sea anemones
  • noun
  • /əˈnɛməni fɪʃ/
translation icon : pez anémona
  • Have you ever seen an anemone fish in the wild?

Examples

  • The anemone fish is often seen darting among the stinging tentacles of sea anemones.

  • The anemone fish relies on the anemone for shelter and safety from predators.

  • Many aquarium enthusiasts keep anemone fish because of their vibrant colors and interesting behavior.

  • The anemone fish avoids predators by seeking refuge within the poisonous arms of its host.

  • The anemone fish swims gracefully among the tentacles.

  • The anemone fish brightly swims among the tentacles of the sea anemone, enjoying their protection.

  • In many aquariums, you can see the anemone fish interacting playfully with the sea anemones.

Synonyms

Amphiprion
vsanemone fish
  • Specialized
8.8

A small brightly colored sea fish that lives with sea anemones

is the common name for these small bright marine fishes not the scientific genus

How Colorful

parrotfish
1 7.5
anemone fish
1 6.7
zebrafish
  • Specialized
1 3.9
herring
52 1.4

Surface Forms

anemone fish singular
anemone fish plural

Morphology

anemone + fish

The compound 'anemone fish' is compositionally built from 'anemone' + 'fish' and directly signals a fish associated with or living among sea anemones. This straightforward noun–noun compounding is a common and predictable pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE’s meaning.

Etymology

Anemone fish is named for a small fish that lives among the stinging arms of a sea anemone. Picture a bright little fish hiding in the anemone's ring of poisonous arms for protection while the anemone gets bits of food too, so the name means a fish that 'lives with' an anemone.