starfish
Starfish (noun) means a sea creature, not actually a fish, with a body typically shaped like a five-pointed star. Example: “They found a bright orange starfish clinging to the rocks at low tide.”
How to Use Starfish
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA star-shaped sea animal, often orange or red, that lives on rocks and the seafloor.
Despite the name, a starfish is not a fish — marine biologists often prefer the term "sea star" for this reason.
Word Forms
starfished past tense, starfishes plural, starfish plural, starfishes singular
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
They found a bright orange _____ clinging to the rocks at low tide.
Etymology
A compound of "star" + "fish," describing its shape, even though it is not a true fish but an echinoderm related to sea urchins.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “starfish” mean?
The word “starfish” means a sea creature, not actually a fish, with a body typically shaped like a five-pointed star. In plain terms, a star-shaped sea animal, often orange or red, that lives on rocks and the seafloor.
How do you pronounce “starfish”?
“Starfish” is pronounced STAH-fihsh (/ˈstɑː(ɹ)fɪʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “starfish” in a sentence?
Here is “starfish” used in a sentence: “They found a bright orange starfish clinging to the rocks at low tide.”
What part of speech is “starfish”?
“Starfish” is a noun.