surgeonfish

[ sur-juhn-fish ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, plural (especially collectively) sur·geon·fish, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) sur·geon·fish·es.

any tropical, coral-reef fish of the family Acanthuridae, with one or more sharp spines near the base of the tail fin.

surgeonfish

/ ˈsɜːdʒənˌfɪʃ /

noun

any tropical marine spiny-finned fish of the family Acanthuridae, having a compressed brightly coloured body with one or more knifelike spines at the base of the tail

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Word History and Origins

Origin of surgeonfish¹

1870–75, Americanism; surgeon + fish; so called from the resemblance of its spines to a surgeon's instruments

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Example Sentences

Like schools of surgeonfish that unite in the face of an imminent threat, the global community must come together in vision, voice and action to combat the alarming realities of the climate crisis.

From Time

surgeoncy surgeon general

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