noun
sardine
sah-DEEN
Sardine (noun) means a small, oily fish, often canned in oil, related to the herring family. Example: “He had sardines on toast for a quick lunch.”
noun
1
A small, oily fish, often canned in oil, related to the herring family.
"He had sardines on toast for a quick lunch."
"The tin of sardines had been sitting in the cupboard for months."
2
Informally, a person tightly packed among others in a small space.
"We were squeezed onto the train like sardines during rush hour."
How to use sardine
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small canned fish, or a way of describing people crammed tightly together.
Common pairings
tin of sardines
packed like sardines
canned sardines
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Word forms
- Plural
- sardines
- Third person singular
- sardines
- Past tense
- sardined
- Comparative
- more sardine
- Superlative
- most sardine
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He had _____ on toast for a quick lunch.
Etymology
From French "sardine," from Latin "sardina," from Ancient Greek "sardine" — possibly named after the island of Sardinia, where the fish was once abundant.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for sardine
See all rhymes for sardine →Frequently asked questions
What does “sardine” mean?
The word “sardine” means a small, oily fish, often canned in oil, related to the herring family. In plain terms, a small canned fish, or a way of describing people crammed tightly together.
How do you pronounce “sardine”?
“Sardine” is pronounced sah-DEEN (/sɑɹˈdin/ in IPA).
How do you use “sardine” in a sentence?
Here is “sardine” used in a sentence: “He had sardines on toast for a quick lunch.”
What part of speech is “sardine”?
“Sardine” is a noun.
Where does the word “sardine” come from?
The word “sardine” comes from Ancient Greek. From French "sardine," from Latin "sardina," from Ancient Greek "sardine" — possibly named after the island of Sardinia, where the fish was once abundant.
How many meanings does “sardine” have?
“Sardine” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small, oily fish, often canned in oil, related to the herring family.
