parrotfish

American  

[par-uht-fish] / ˈpær ətˌfɪʃ /

noun

parrotfishes plural

1. any of various chiefly tropical marine fishes, especially of the family Scaridae: so called because of their brilliant coloring and the shape of their jaws.

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parrotfish British  

/ ˈpærətˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. any brightly coloured tropical marine percoid fish of the family Scaridae, having parrot-like jaws

2. any of various brightly coloured marine fish of the family Labridae

3. any of various similar fishes

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• parrotfishes
  plural
• parrotfish
  plural

Etymology

Origin of parrotfish

First recorded in 1705–15; parrot + fish

Example Sentences

Parrotfish, for instance, feed on algae and dead corals, digest the crunchy reef material and then excrete it as sand.

From Scientific American • May 12, 2023

Parrotfish, rock beauties, yellowtail snappers, blue tangs and horse-eye jacks are everywhere.

From Washington Post • Nov. 3, 2016

Parrotfish start as females and later become males.

From National Geographic • Feb. 14, 2016

Parrotfish should be coated in cheese, seasoned with cumin and baked whole.

From The Guardian • Aug. 12, 2011

Along with other top predators they help keep barracuda populations in check, which is important because barracuda consume algae grazers like Parrotfish that prevent runaway algae growth from choking the corals.

From New York Times • Apr. 26, 2010