fish
Fish (noun) means a cold-blooded animal that lives in water, breathes through gills, and swims using fins. Example: “They spent the afternoon watching fish dart around the coral reef.”
How to use fish
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn aquatic animal with fins and gills, or the act of trying to catch one — and, figuratively, trying to get information or compliments indirectly.
Word forms
fished past tense, fish plural, fishes plural, fishes plural, Fishes plural, fishes plural, fishes singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They spent the afternoon watching _____ dart around the coral reef.
Etymology
From Old English fisċ, from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "fish," related to Latin piscis.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for fish
See all rhymes for fish →Frequently asked questions
What does “fish” mean?
The word “fish” means a cold-blooded animal that lives in water, breathes through gills, and swims using fins. In plain terms, an aquatic animal with fins and gills, or the act of trying to catch one — and, figuratively, trying to get information or compliments indirectly.
How do you pronounce “fish”?
“Fish” is pronounced FIHSH (/ˈfɪʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “fish” in a sentence?
Here is “fish” used in a sentence: “They spent the afternoon watching fish dart around the coral reef.”
What is another word for “fish”?
Words with a similar meaning to “fish” include angle.
What part of speech is “fish”?
Depending on how it is used, “fish” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “fish” come from?
The word “fish” comes from Latin. From Old English fisċ, from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "fish," related to Latin piscis.
Is “fish” a common word?
“Fish” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “fish” have?
“Fish” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a cold-blooded animal that lives in water, breathes through gills, and swims using fins.
Is a whale a fish?
No. Although whales live in water and look fish-like, they are mammals. Unlike fish, whales are warm-blooded, breathe air through lungs at the surface, and nurse their young with milk. Fish are cold-blooded and take oxygen from water through gills. Dolphins and porpoises are mammals too, for the same reasons.
How do fish breathe underwater?
Fish breathe using gills instead of lungs. As water passes over the gills, tiny blood vessels absorb dissolved oxygen from it and release carbon dioxide back into the water. This lets fish take in the oxygen they need without ever surfacing, which is why most cannot survive long out of water.
What are the main types of fish?
Biologists group fish into three broad classes. Bony fish, like salmon and cod, make up the vast majority and have skeletons of bone. Cartilaginous fish, such as sharks and rays, have skeletons of flexible cartilage. Jawless fish, including lampreys, are a small, ancient group without true jaws.
Is the plural of fish 'fish' or 'fishes'?
Usually 'fish.' When you mean several individuals of one or mixed kinds, 'fish' stays the same: 'I caught three fish.' 'Fishes' is correct but less common, used mainly in science to mean different species, as in 'the fishes of the Amazon' or 'the many fishes of the coral reef.'
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