grunion
2
8.8
- noun
- /ˈɡrʌn.jən/
- US
- The unique phenomenon of the grunion run attracts many spectators who want to witness the spawning event.
- grunion run
- catch the grunion
- grunion fish
Examples
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This sweet little fish called the grunion swims up out of the ocean onto the beach for a moment of privacy for his mating ritual, and the human beings swoop down on him, scoop him up, and fry him for dinner.
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The grunions are running.
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Have you two ever been down to the grunion run?
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So, you wanna go to the beach and watch the grunion run Monday night?
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So, Bryan, when do the grunion run?
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Anyway, the girl grunion, right, she comes and lays her eggs in the sand, and then the guy grunion, he comes and fertilizes them.
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Every spring, we eagerly wait for the night when the grunion come ashore to spawn on the beach.
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During the grunion run, thousands of these small silvery fish can be seen wriggling on the sand.
Surface Forms
Etymology
Grunion was a name given by fishermen and is easy to remember because it contains run. These small, silvery fish make a nightly 'run' onto the beach to lay their eggs, so the name points to that behaviour.