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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 notes

In plain EnglishA small canned fish, or a way of describing people crammed tightly together.

Common pairings
tin of sardines packed like sardines canned sardines

Word forms

more sardine comparative, sardined past tense, sardines plural, sardines plural, Sardines plural, sardines singular, most sardine superlative

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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.

Origin: Ancient Greek

sard sardius pilchard

Related words

Rhymes for sardine

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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.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial