Lamprey: meaning, definitions and examples

๐ŸŸ
Add to dictionary

lamprey

 

[ หˆlรฆmpri ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

marine animal

A lamprey is a type of jawless fish that belongs to the family Petromyzontidae. They are characterized by their elongated bodies, lack of paired fins, and a circular mouth filled with sharp teeth. Lampreys are mostly found in freshwater environments but can also be found in marine habitats. Many species of lampreys are parasitic, feeding on the blood of other fish by attaching themselves with their mouth.

Synonyms

jawless fish, parasitic fish

Examples of usage

  • The lamprey attached itself to the side of the trout.
  • Scientists studied the migratory behavior of the lamprey in the river.
  • Lampreys are often considered pests in lakes and rivers.
  • The lamprey's unique feeding mechanism is fascinating to researchers.

Translations

Translations of the word "lamprey" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น lampreia

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฒเฅˆเค‚เคชเฅเคฐเฅ€

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Neunauge

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ lamprey

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะผะธะฝะพะณะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ minoga

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใƒคใƒ„ใƒกใ‚ฆใƒŠใ‚ฎ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท lamproie

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ lamprea

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท lamba

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ํ”ผ๋ผ๋ฏธ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุณู…ูƒุฉ ุงู„ู„ุงู…ุจุฑูŠ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ mnรญk

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ minoga

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ไธƒ้ณƒ้ณ—

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ lampo

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ lampa

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะปะฐะผะฟั€ะตั

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒšแƒแƒ›แƒžแƒ แƒ˜แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ lamprey

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ lamprea

Etymology

The word 'lamprey' has its origins in Old French 'lamproie' and through this from the Latin word 'lampreda', which is believed to be derived from Greek 'lamprฤ“s', meaning 'stone' or 'rock', possibly relating to the habitat of these fish or their shape. The resemblance of lampreys to eels added to their categorization challenges historically as they were not easily classified. Throughout history, lampreys have held various places in cultures; for example, they have been used as food in some regions and often referenced in literature due to their unique features. Their parasitic nature has also led to them being viewed as ominous creatures in various traditions. The study of lampreys contributes significantly to our understanding of vertebrate evolution since they are considered ancient species, providing insight into the developmental biology of jawed vertebrates.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #26,765, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.