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Glite Dictionary
flame fish

flame fish

8.8
A small bright fish that lives on coral reefs in the tropical Atlantic
  • noun
  • US
translation icon : pez llama
  • While snorkeling, I spotted a stunning flame fish darting among the coral reefs.

Examples

  • The aquarium features several vibrant flame fish in its tropical marine exhibit.

  • Marine biologists are studying the behavior of the flame fish in its natural habitat.

  • The flame fish is known for its vibrant colors.

  • Have you ever seen a flame fish in the wild?

  • The aquarium features several vibrant flame fish in its tropical marine exhibit.

  • While snorkeling, I spotted a stunning flame fish darting among the coral reefs.

  • Marine biologists are studying the behavior of the flame fish in its natural habitat.

Synonyms

flamefish
vsflame fish
  • Specialized
9.9

A small bright red and orange fish that lives near tropical Atlantic reefs

is written as two words and highlights bright coloration

Surface Forms

flame fish singular
flame fish plural

Morphology

flame + fish

The compound is a straightforward noun+noun naming pattern where 'flame' describes a salient property (bright, flame-like coloration) of the animal 'fish', so the overall meaning (a brightly coloured fish) is directly inferable from the parts. This compositional logic is common cross-linguistically for species or color-based names, so an average B1 learner who knows 'flame' and 'fish' would understand the MWE.

Etymology

Flame fish gets its name from its bright red-orange color that flashes like a small fire as it swims. The word flame makes you think of a little fire and fish shows it is a sea animal, so the name means a fish that is 'very colorful'.