albacore
Americannoun
-
a long-finned tuna, Thunnus alalunga, of warm or temperate seas, the flesh of which is valued for canning.
-
any of various tunalike fishes.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of albacore
1570–80; < Portuguese albacora ≪ North African Arabic al-bakūrah the tuna
Explanation
Albacore is a large tuna fish with a long, silver body, huge eyes, and oversized pectoral fins. As a food, albacore is also known as "white tuna." When it comes to canned tuna fish, albacore isn't the safest type to eat regularly; because it's so large, it contains a high level of mercury. The smaller skipjack is considered a healthier choice. A fully grown albacore weighs over 70 pounds, and it can be found in both tropical and temperate waters. Albacore comes from the Portuguese and has an Arabic root: al bakara, or "milk cow."
Vocabulary lists containing albacore
English Food and Drink Words Derived from Arabic
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
White
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Then I’m getting the lime roll, the albacore crispy onion, the garlic sashimi, and I’m going to keep ordering and ordering and be so happy.
From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026
For instance, during the heat waves of 2014 and 2015, bluefin and albacore tuna moved northwest.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 29, 2023
Rolando Quisca, a local fisherman, also said the heat wave had benefited him, citing an unusual amount of albacore, a fish that lives in warmer waters.
From Reuters • Aug. 7, 2023
“Some brands specialize in different parts of the tuna, such as the neck and bellies, or ventresca; others focus on canning a variety of species, from skipjack and bluefin to albacore or yellowfin,” he says.
From Washington Post • Jan. 29, 2023
Today I’ll work out where the schools of bonito and albacore are and maybe there will be a big one with them.
From "The Old Man and The Sea" by Ernest Hemingway
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
