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Glite Dictionary
spadefish

spadefish

1 9.5
A deep round sea fish often used for food
  • noun
  • /ˈspeɪdˌfɪʃ/
  • US
: pez pala
  • Atlantic spadefish swim near the water's surface by an oil platform off the shore of Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico.
  • Atlantic spadefish

Examples

  • There were also plenty of horseshoe crabs, butterfly rays, Atlantic spadefish, and flounder.

    Blog text (9)

  • Many divers enjoy observing the vibrant colors of the spadefish while exploring coral reefs in warm waters.

  • Fish mortalities were highest for Atlantic spadefish, red snapper, and vermilion snapper.

    Academic text (1994)

  • Surprisingly rapid reversal of the phase shift, within eight weeks, was driven by a single, rare spadefish species (Platax pinnatus), a species previously thought to feed on invertebrates.

    Academic text (2008)

  • The Atlantic spadefish is often caught for its delicious taste and is popular among seafood lovers.

  • Fishermen are always excited when they spot a school of spadefish near the surface during their outings.

Synonyms

Chaetodipterus faber
vsspadefish
  • Specialized
9.9

A fish with a deep, round body that lives near warm western Atlantic coasts and is eaten as food

is the common name used for that fish in everyday language

Surface Forms

spadefish singular
spadefishes plural

Morphology

spadefish = spade + fish (transparent) = spade + fish

The name is a straightforward compound: a fish named for its spade-like (disk) shape, so learners knowing 'spade' and 'fish' can infer the meaning.

Etymology

The word spadefish comes from spade (like the shovel or the black card shape) and fish, so it literally means 'spade-shaped fish'. That's why the name helps you picture this warm-water fish with a deep, round body often found near the coast.