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Glite Dictionary
yellow goatfish

yellow goatfish

8.1
A fish with a yellow stripe that swims in schools in warm tropical waters
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : pez cabra amarillo
  • A school of yellow goatfish swam near the coral reef as divers passed by.

Examples

  • The yellow goatfish is easily recognized by the bright stripe running along its side.

  • Fishermen often spot yellow goatfish in shallow, sandy lagoons.

  • The yellow goatfish is known for its vibrant yellow stripe.

  • Many yellow goatfishes swim together in schools.

  • A school of yellow goatfish swam near the coral reef as divers passed by.

  • Fishermen often spot yellow goatfish in shallow, sandy lagoons.

  • The yellow goatfish is easily recognized by the bright stripe running along its side.

Synonyms

Mulloidichthys martinicus
vsyellow goatfish
  • Specialized
9.9

A western Atlantic sea fish with a grey body and a bright yellow stripe that swims in schools

is broader, found across tropical and subtropical waters beyond that region

Surface Forms

yellow goatfish singular
yellow goatfishes plural

Morphology

yellow + goatfish

This is a simple adjectival compound where 'yellow' modifies 'goatfish' to indicate a goatfish with yellow coloration; the meaning is directly derivable from the known constituents. Such adjective + noun composition is highly productive in English (and common cross-linguistically), so a B1 learner who knows both words would comprehend the phrase.

Etymology

Yellow goatfish likely comes from the fish's look: it has a bright yellow stripe and small 'whiskers' under its mouth that reminded people of a goat, so they called it a goatfish. That's why the name means a fish with a yellow stripe and goat-like 'whiskers'.