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Pufferfish: meaning, definitions and examples

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pufferfish

[ ˈpʌfərfɪʃ ]

Noun

^{Context #1 | Noun}

sea creature

A pufferfish is a type of fish that can inflate itself by swallowing water or air, becoming round and spiky to deter predators. Pufferfish are known for their ability to produce tetrodotoxin, a powerful neurotoxin that can be deadly if consumed.

Synonyms

blowfish, fugu.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
pufferfish	General term used to describe the fish known for inflating itself as a defense mechanism. Commonly used in casual or educational conversations about marine life. The pufferfish swam away quickly after inflating itself to avoid the predator. Children at the aquarium were fascinated by the pufferfish.
blowfish	Often used interchangeably with pufferfish, but slightly more informal. It is also widely recognized in popular culture and media. We saw a blowfish in the reef during our snorkeling trip. The cartoon featured a blowfish as one of its main characters.
fugu	Specifically refers to the pufferfish in the context of Japanese cuisine, particularly when discussing the delicacy prepared from its meat. This word often appears in discussions about food safety due to the fish’s poisonous potential. Fugu is a famous but risky delicacy in Japan, as it contains a potent toxin. Only licensed chefs are allowed to prepare and serve fugu in restaurants.

Word

Description / Examples

pufferfish

General term used to describe the fish known for inflating itself as a defense mechanism. Commonly used in casual or educational conversations about marine life.

The pufferfish swam away quickly after inflating itself to avoid the predator.
Children at the aquarium were fascinated by the pufferfish.

blowfish

Often used interchangeably with pufferfish, but slightly more informal. It is also widely recognized in popular culture and media.

We saw a blowfish in the reef during our snorkeling trip.
The cartoon featured a blowfish as one of its main characters.

fugu

Specifically refers to the pufferfish in the context of Japanese cuisine, particularly when discussing the delicacy prepared from its meat. This word often appears in discussions about food safety due to the fish’s poisonous potential.

Fugu is a famous but risky delicacy in Japan, as it contains a potent toxin.
Only licensed chefs are allowed to prepare and serve fugu in restaurants.

Examples of usage

The pufferfish puffed up to twice its size when threatened by the predator.
Chefs who prepare pufferfish for consumption must be specially trained to avoid poisoning diners.

Translations

Translations of the word "pufferfish" in other languages:

🇵🇹 baiacu

🇮🇳 पफरफिश

🇩🇪 Kugelfisch

🇮🇩 ikan buntal

🇺🇦 риба-фугу

🇵🇱 rozdymka

🇯🇵 フグ

🇫🇷 poisson-globe

🇪🇸 pez globo

🇹🇷 balon balığı

🇰🇷 복어

🇸🇦 سمكة المنتفخة

🇨🇿 čtverzubec

🇸🇰 nafukovacia ryba

🇨🇳 河豚鱼 (hétún yú)

🇸🇮 napihnjenka

🇮🇸 blöðrufiskur

🇰🇿 тәтті балық

🇬🇪 გაბერილი თევზი

🇦🇿 şişmək balığı

🇲🇽 pez globo

Etymology

The word 'pufferfish' originated from the combination of 'puff', referring to the action of inflating, and 'fish'. These unique fish have been known for centuries, with various cultures having different names for them. Pufferfish have also been associated with delicacies like the Japanese dish fugu, which requires skilled preparation to remove the toxic parts.