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Glite Dictionary
common eel

common eel

3.8
A fish that lives in rivers as an adult and swims to the sea to breed
  • noun
  • /ˈkɑːmən iːl/
  • UK
translation icon : anguila común
  • Many rivers in Europe are habitats for the common eel, which migrates thousands of miles to breed.

Examples

  • The chef prepared smoked common eel as a local delicacy for the festival.

  • Conservationists are concerned about the declining populations of the common eel due to overfishing and habitat loss.

  • The common eel is a fascinating species.

  • Did you know that the common eel migrates to the sea?

  • Many rivers in Europe provide a habitat for the common eel, which migrates to the sea to spawn.

  • The chef served a delicious dish made with smoked common eel at the restaurant.

  • Conservation efforts are in place to protect the fading populations of the common eel in freshwater regions.

Synonyms

eel
vscommon eel
62 1.0

A long, thin fish with a snake-like body that lives in rivers or the sea

is a specific freshwater living species that migrates to sea to spawn
freshwater eel
vscommon eel
1 3.6

A long fish that lives in rivers and returns to the sea to lay eggs

is the species name used for that same fish rather than a general type

Surface Forms

common eel singular
common eels plural

Morphology

common + eel

The noun phrase is a straightforward compositional combination: 'common' (typical/frequently occurring) modifies 'eel' (a long, snake-like fish) to indicate a frequently occurring species of eel. This adjective+noun pattern is regular in English and cross-linguistically familiar, so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Common eel gets its name from being the eel people most often saw. The word common meant 'found in many places' and eel is the long, slippery fish that lives in rivers but swims to the sea to breed, so the name points to the familiar eel people caught and sold in local waters and markets.