Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
yellowtail flounder

yellowtail flounder

7.9
A flat fish with a yellow tail from the Atlantic that people eat
  • noun
  • /ˈjɛloʊˌteɪl ˈflaʊndər/
  • US
translation icon : platija cola amarilla
  • The chef recommended yellowtail flounder for tonight's special because of its delicate flavor.
  • cod and yellowtail flounder

Examples

  • You cast an eye on the Atlantic cod, halibut, salmon, and yellowtail flounder glistening on ice, only to discover that each is among the 13 species now overfished in New England, according to a 2011 report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

    Blog text (4)

  • Many fishermen in New England depend on the catch of yellowtail flounder to support their families.

  • She prepared a delicious meal using yellowtail flounder, seasoned with lemon and herbs.

Synonyms

Limanda ferruginea
vsyellowtail flounder
  • Specialized
9.9

A flat sea fish with a yellow tail found in the northwest Atlantic

is the everyday market name used for the same fish

Surface Forms

yellowtail flounder singular
yellowtail flounders plural

Morphology

yellowtail + flounder

The meaning 'a flounder with a yellow tail' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'yellowtail' (a fish with a yellow tail) and 'flounder' (a bottom-dwelling flatfish). This is a straightforward noun–noun compound following common compositional patterns, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Yellowtail flounder is named for how the fish looks: a flat flounder with a bright yellow tail, so people used that clear picture as the name. That's why the name means 'a flat fish with a yellow tail'.