sunfish
/ˈsʌn.fɪʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsʌn.fɪʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsən-ˌfish/ (ame, mw)
sunfish — noun
1. a large ocean fish with a round, flat body and tall fins that stick out above an
a large ocean fish with a round, flat body and tall fins that stick out above and below the water when it swims near the surface
On her trip to Hawaii, Élise saw a huge sunfish floating near the boat.
The ocean sunfish can grow to be more than two meters across.
measurement: 'more than two meters across'
Marine biologists tagged a sunfish to learn where it travels during winter.
A strange-looking sunfish appeared beside the dock, and the children pointed at it.
Sunfish often float on their sides at the ocean surface, which is how they got their name.
- mola
scientific name used as a common name; more precise than 'sunfish'
- ocean sunfish
full name that avoids confusion with the freshwater kind
用法筆記
Also called 'mola' or 'ocean sunfish'. Distinguished from freshwater sunfish (sense 3) by its enormous size and saltwater habitat.
常見錯誤
2. a small boat with one sail, made by the Sunfish company, that one person can sai
a small boat with one sail, made by the Sunfish company, that one person can sail for fun or in races on lakes or near the coast
Rafael learned to steer a Sunfish during his first sailing lesson at the lake.
The summer camp owned six Sunfish boats for the children to race on the lake.
collocation: 'Sunfish boats'
Salma pulled her Sunfish onto the sandy beach after a relaxing afternoon sail.
A single person can carry a Sunfish from the shore and set it up alone.
Cole takes his Sunfish out every weekend when the weather is warm and the wind is steady.
用法筆記
Often capitalized as 'Sunfish' because it is a registered trademark. In casual speech, people say 'a Sunfish' to mean the boat, not the fish.
常見錯誤
3. a small freshwater fish with a deep, flat body and shiny colored scales, found i
a small freshwater fish with a deep, flat body and shiny colored scales, found in lakes and rivers across North America and often caught by people fishing for sport or food
The pond behind Ayana's house is full of small sunfish with bright orange bellies.
Gabriel caught five sunfish from the dock and gently released them back into the water.
catch-and-release: caught and released back into the water
Sunfish darted among the rocks near the shallow edge of the clear mountain stream.
A bluegill sunfish has a dark blue spot on its gill cover that shines in bright light.
Children on the bridge dropped bits of bread and watched the sunfish rise to eat them.
- panfish
common regional term for any small freshwater fish cooked whole in a pan
- bluegill
the most common type of freshwater sunfish in North America
- pumpkinseed
a colorful sunfish with orange spots and a red spot on the gill cover
用法筆記
This sense covers several related species including bluegill, pumpkinseed, and crappie. Often called 'panfish' in North America because they are small enough to cook whole in a frying pan.