great barracuda
1
8.0
- noun
- /ɡreɪt ˈbærəˌkuːdə/
:
gran barracuda
- Divers often encounter the great barracuda while exploring coral reefs in tropical waters.
Examples
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For bycatch in Area I, over half was discarded; king mackerel, little tunny, crevalle jack, cobia, and great barracuda were kept.
Academic text (1997) -
The great barracuda is known for its sharp teeth and swift movements when hunting fish.
-
Anglers seek the great barracuda for sport because of its aggressive nature and large size.
Synonyms
15
6.8
A large sea fish with a long body and sharp teeth that hunts other fish
A large grey-brown sea fish that people eat and catch for sport and can sometimes be dangerous to swimmers
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun phrase is a transparent adjective+noun composition: 'great' (very large) modifies 'barracuda' (a predatory fish), so the meaning 'a large barracuda' is directly and predictably derived from the parts. This literal compositional pattern is common across languages and follows standard English noun modification, so a B1 learner who knows both words would understand the MWE.
Etymology
The name great barracuda comes from how the fish looks: great means 'very large' and barracuda is a long, fast fish with big, sharp teeth. That clear image of a large, fast hunter with dangerous jaws explains why the name refers to this powerful tropical sea fish today.