noun Uncommon

eel

Eel (noun) means a long, snake-like fish with a smooth body and no obvious scales. Example: “The fisherman pulled up an eel tangled in his net.”

noun

A long, snake-like fish with a smooth body and no obvious scales.

"The fisherman pulled up an eel tangled in his net."

"Smoked eel is a traditional delicacy in parts of Europe."

Someone or something slippery and difficult to pin down or catch.

"The suspect was a real eel, always one step ahead of investigators."

How to use eel

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA long, slimy-looking fish shaped like a snake; figuratively, someone hard to catch or corner.

Common pairings

slippery as an eel electric eel jellied eels

Word forms

eeled past tense, eels plural, eels singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The fisherman pulled up an _____ tangled in his net.

Etymology

From Old English ǣl, a very old Germanic word for the fish, related to similar words in Dutch, German, and the Scandinavian languages.

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for eel

heel feel keel peel reel Neel kneel wheel steel creel genteel newsreel

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Frequently asked questions

What does “eel” mean?

The word “eel” means a long, snake-like fish with a smooth body and no obvious scales. In plain terms, a long, slimy-looking fish shaped like a snake; figuratively, someone hard to catch or corner.

How do you pronounce “eel”?

“Eel” is pronounced eel (/iːl/ in IPA).

How do you use “eel” in a sentence?

Here is “eel” used in a sentence: “The fisherman pulled up an eel tangled in his net.”

What part of speech is “eel”?

“Eel” is a noun.

Where does the word “eel” come from?

The word “eel” comes from Old English. From Old English ǣl, a very old Germanic word for the fish, related to similar words in Dutch, German, and the Scandinavian languages.

Is “eel” a common word?

“Eel” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “eel” have?

“Eel” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a long, snake-like fish with a smooth body and no obvious scales.