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Glite Dictionary
caudal fin

caudal fin

6.0
A tail fin at the back of a fish that pushes water to make it move and steer
  • noun
  • /ˈkɔːdəl fɪn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : aleta caudal
  • Aquatic species rely on their caudal fin for swift movement in search of food.

Examples

  • The fish swam gracefully through the water, its caudal fin propelling it forward with ease.

  • As the fish turned sharply, its caudal fin helped it steer away from the approaching predator.

  • Then its caudal fin flexed and it darted into concealment, its wake upsetting the placid diver.

    Fiction book (1994)

Synonyms

fin
vscaudal fin
45 1.0

A flat part on a fish's body that helps it swim and stay balanced

is a specific rear appendage used mainly for propulsion and steering
tail fin
vscaudal fin
3.1

A flat fin at a fish's rear used to push and steer it in water

is the scientific term for the same rear appendage used for propulsion and steering

Surface Forms

caudal fin singular
caudal fins plural

Morphology

caudal + fin

The meaning is directly compositional: 'caudal' = related to the tail and 'fin' = a swimming appendage, so together they denote the tail fin. Although 'caudal' is somewhat technical/Latinate, the constituent meanings combine predictably (and mirror equivalent compounds in many languages), so a learner who knows both words will understand it.

Etymology

The name caudal fin comes from the old word caudal, meaning 'tail', so it literally means the fin at a fish's tail. That fin pushes and steers the fish, so the name points to the tail fin used for movement and steering.