whitefish

/ˈwaɪt.fɪʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈwaɪt.fɪʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈ(h)wīt-ˌfish/ (ame, mw)

whitefish — noun

1. A freshwater fish from the salmon family that lives in cold lakes and rivers acr

1.名詞B1
釋義

A freshwater fish from the salmon family that lives in cold lakes and rivers across North America, Europe, and Asia, known for its pale, mild-tasting flesh that is not oily; the word also refers to the meat of this fish when used as food.

例句

Arjun caught a large whitefish while fly-fishing on the lake last weekend.

countable: 'a whitefish' — an individual fish

The restaurant served smoked whitefish on rye bread with a slice of lemon.

collocation: smoked whitefish

同義詞
  • cisco

    A closely related species in the same genus; sometimes sold as 'lake whitefish' in markets

  • lake whitefish

    The full common name for the most commercially fished species (Coregonus clupeaformis)

文法句型

whitefish (countable for the fish; uncountable for the meat)

用法筆記

In this sense, whitefish (countable) refers to the live fish — a member of the Coregonus genus. Whitefish (uncountable) refers to its flesh as a food ingredient. Common in North American and Northern European cooking contexts.

2. A general marketing or cooking term for any fish that has light-coloured, non-oi

2.名詞B2
釋義

A general marketing or cooking term for any fish that has light-coloured, non-oily flesh and is sold for eating — including cod, haddock, whiting, and pollock, but not fatty fish like salmon or mackerel.

例句

The fish market has a separate section for whitefish and another for oily fish.

collocation: whitefish vs oily fish — the commercial distinction

Salma prefers whitefish for fish and chips because the flesh stays light and flaky.

同義詞
  • white-fleshed fish

    A more transparent term; less common in everyday use but clearer

  • lean fish

    Used in nutrition and cooking contexts; contrasts with 'oily fish'

反義詞
  • oily fish

    Fish with darker, oil-rich flesh such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines

  • fatty fish

    Another term for oily fish, used in health and dietary discussions

文法句型

whitefish (uncountable as a category; countable for types)

用法筆記

This sense describes a commercial or culinary category, not a biological family. A fish labelled 'whitefish' at a market could be cod, haddock, whiting, pollock, or tilapia — anything with pale, low-fat flesh. Distinguish this from Sense 1, which refers specifically to the Coregonus genus of salmonid fish.

常見錯誤

Whitefish is a type of fish from the salmon family.' (when referring to white-fleshed market fish like cod).
Cod is classified as a whitefish because of its pale, mild-flavoured flesh.
💡Sense 2 is a commercial category based on flesh colour and oil content, not biological classification.