armored catfish
1
6.7
- noun
- /ˈɑrmərd ˈkætfɪʃ/
- US
:
pez gato acorazado
- Did you see the armored catfish in the aquarium?
Examples
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The river's bottom is home to different kinds of armored catfish, easily identified by their hard bony plates.
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The aquarium has several armored catfish living peacefully with other tropical species.
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Some armored catfish can adapt well to life in home fish tanks.
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The armored catfish is known for its unique bony plates.
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The armored catfish is often found in slow-moving rivers and streams in South America.
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In the aquarium, the armored catfish helps keep the tank clean by eating algae.
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The bony plates on the body of the armored catfish provide protection from predators.
Synonyms
60
1.0
A fish with whisker-like feelers often eaten as food
A group of freshwater catfish with bony plates
How Armored
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun phrase is directly compositional: 'armored' describes having protective plates and 'catfish' names the fish, so the combined meaning 'a catfish covered in bony plates' is directly derivable from the parts. This adjective + noun pattern is regular and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words would understand the MWE.
Etymology
Armored catfish gets its name from the hard bony plates that cover the fish's body like a suit of armor, so it is literally a catfish with strong natural protection.