angelfish

[ eyn-juh l-fish ]
/ ˈeɪn dʒəlˌfɪʃ /

noun, plural (especially collectively) an·gel·fish, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) an·gel·fish·es.

a South American freshwater fish, genus Pterophyllum, often kept in aquariums.Compare scalare.
angel shark.

QUIZZES

PRACTICE SOME ESCAPISM WITH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

We salute you if you remember all the doovers from Word of the Day between May 25 and May 31!
Question 1 of 7
salute
to call out to in order to stop, attract attention, ask aid, etc.
to wield power; exercise rule.
to express respect or praise for; honor; commend.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of angelfish

First recorded in 1660–70; angel + fish

Words nearby angelfish

angel's-trumpet, angela, angela merici, angeleno, angeles, angelfish, angelhood, angelic, angelic doctor, angelica, angelica tree
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for angelfish

angelfish
/ (ˈeɪndʒəlˌfɪʃ) /

noun plural -fish or -fishes

any of various small tropical marine percoid fishes of the genus Pomacanthus and related genera, which have a deep flattened brightly coloured body and brushlike teeth: family ChaetodontidaeSee also butterflyfish
Also called: scalare a South American cichlid, Pterophyllum scalare, of the Amazon region, having a compressed body and large dorsal and anal fins: a popular aquarium fish
another name for angel shark
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012