A1noun1K

Fish

UK /["/fɪʃ/"]/US /["/fɪʃ/"]/

Definition

a creature that lives in water, breathes through gills, and uses fins and a tail for swimming

In simple words: A water animal that has gills and fins.

Examples

  • We went to the aquarium to see a variety of fish.
  • Can you name your favorite type of fish?
  • She decided to fish in the river for dinner.
  • He loves to fish on weekends with his friends.
  • The fish swam swiftly through the water.

Usage notes

Use 'fish' when talking about the animal itself, and in contexts like cooking or fishing. Avoid using in formal written contexts without additional description. In plural, 'fish' can refer to multiple types, while 'fishes' refers to different species.

Grammar pattern

standalone noun

Memory hint

Think of a 'fish' swimming in a 'fin' and 'gill' filled water.

Collocations

  • freshwater
  • marine
  • saltwater
  • school
  • shoal
  • catch
  • land
  • breed
  • swim
  • hatch
  • bite
  • species
  • eggs
  • bowl
  • fresh
  • dried
  • frozen
  • bit
  • piece
  • fillet/​filet
  • eat
  • have
  • clean
  • taste
  • bone
  • fillet/​filet
  • dish
  • fish and chips

Synonyms

  • sea creature
  • marine life
  • ichthyic animal

Antonyms

  • mammal
  • bird

Common mistakes

  • Confused with the plural form 'fishes' when referring to multiple species.
  • Using 'fish' as a verb incorrectly, such as 'I fish' without context.
  • Incorrectly using 'fish' in a non-literal sense without proper setup.