mackerel

IPA/ˈmækrəl/
KK[mˈækɚəl]IPA/ˈmækrəl/

mackerel — noun

  • mackerelsingular
  • mackerelsplural

1. an ocean fish with a greenish-blue back and dark wavy stripes, caught in large n

1.名詞B1
釋義

an ocean fish with a greenish-blue back and dark wavy stripes, caught in large numbers for its rich-flavoured meat

例句

Mei-Lin grilled two fresh mackerel for dinner and served them with lemon and herbs.

invariant plural: 'two fresh mackerel' (not mackerels)

The fish shop near Elena's flat sells smoked mackerel at a very good price.

collocation: smoked mackerel

文法句型

mackerel as uncountable for the meat; countable for individual fish

用法筆記

Countable when referring to individual fish ('a fresh mackerel'); uncountable when referring to the flesh as food ('We had mackerel for lunch'). The plural is usually unchanged ('two mackerel'), though 'mackerels' is occasionally used.

常見錯誤

❌I bought two mackerels at the market.
✅I bought two mackerel at the market.
💡the plural of 'mackerel' is the same as the singular.

2. any fish that belongs to the biological family Scombridae, a group of fast-swimm

2.名詞C1
釋義

any fish that belongs to the biological family Scombridae, a group of fast-swimming ocean fish that includes tuna and bonito

例句

Tuna and bonito are both members of the mackerel family, known scientifically as Scombridae.

structure: 'members of the mackerel family'

The marine biologist explained that the king mackerel belongs to a different genus within the same family.

同義詞
  • scombroid

    technical adjective used by biologists; narrower and more formal than 'mackerel' in this sense

文法句型

the mackerel family / a member of the mackerel family

用法筆記

Frequently used with 'family' in scientific contexts ('the mackerel family' = Scombridae). This broader sense is mainly found in biology texts and fishing guides.

常見錯誤

❌A salmon is a type of mackerel.
✅Salmon belongs to a different family than mackerel.
💡salmon are Salmonidae, not Scombridae.