largemouth

IPA/lˈɑːdʒɛməθ/
IPA/lˈɑːɹdʒɛməθ/

largemouth — noun

1. a freshwater fish from North America, dark green on top and pale underneath, wit

1.nounB2
Definition

a freshwater fish from North America, dark green on top and pale underneath, with a very wide mouth that reaches back beyond the eye; popular with anglers and often called largemouth bass.

Example

Karim reeled in a four-pound largemouth from the shallow end of the lake.

catch/reel in a largemouth

Largemouth often hide under fallen branches during the hot afternoon.

habitat: hide under structure

Common collocations
  • largemouth bass
  • trophy largemouth
  • largemouth fishing
  • catch a largemouth
  • release a largemouth
Synonyms
  • largemouth bass

    the full standard name, used in field guides and tournament rules

  • black bass

    broader group name that also covers smallmouth and other related species

  • bigmouth bass

    regional informal label heard in some parts of the southern United States

Antonyms
  • smallmouth

    a related bass species with a shorter jaw; the two are often contrasted by anglers

Grammar Patterns

a/the largemouth

largemouth + bass

catch/release a largemouth

Usage Note

Usually used as a short name for 'largemouth bass'. In American fishing and biology writing it appears both alone and before a noun (e.g. 'largemouth fishing', 'largemouth tournament').

Common Mistakes

I caught a largemouth shark on Saturday.
I caught a largemouth bass on Saturday.
'largemouth' refers to a freshwater bass, not any wide-mouthed fish; sharks are unrelated.

Word family

  • largemouth bass
    nounB2
  • smallmouth
    nounB2
  • bass
    nounB1

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

A compound of 'large' and 'mouth', describing the very wide jaw of this bass species. The full form 'largemouth bass' has been used by American anglers and naturalists since the 1800s; in casual speech the second word is often dropped.