barracuda

[ bar-uh-koo-duh ]

/ ˌbær əˈku də /

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noun, plural (especially collectively) bar·ra·cu·da, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) bar·ra·cu·das for 1; bar·ra·cu·das for 2.

any of several elongated, predaceous, tropical and subtropical marine fishes of the genus Sphyraena, certain species of which are used for food.

Slang. a treacherous, greedy person.

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THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

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Origin of barracuda

First recorded in 1670–80; from Latin American Spanish; further origin unknown

Words nearby barracuda

barracks, barracks bag, barracks lawyer, barracoon, barracouta, barracuda, barracudina, Barra de São Francisco, barrage, barrage balloon, Barra Mansa

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use barracuda in a sentence

A barracuda was caught by research scientists near Santa Cruz.
Fishy Mystery: Are Beached Oarfish Trying to Tell Us Something?|Kevin Bailey|October 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
So why are some disability-rights leaders telling Dana Goldstein they're skeptical of Sarah Barracuda?
Palin Snubs Disability Advocates|Dana Goldstein|February 22, 2010|DAILY BEAST
GOP leaders may turn up their noses at Sarah Barracuda, but Palin could easily be the Republican nominee in 2012.
How Palin Could Win|Matt Latimer|February 9, 2010|DAILY BEAST
On her book tour, Sarah Barracuda pretends to be one of the people.
Palin's Bus Hoax|Joe McGinniss|November 29, 2009|DAILY BEAST

Come to think of it, it was more Great White than Barracuda.
The All-New Sarah Palin|Lloyd Grove|November 16, 2009|DAILY BEAST
The big barracuda with incredible speed and unbelievable ferocity rushed right to the side of the boat at the bonita.
Tales of Fishes|Zane Grey
The barracuda looked to me to be fully seven feet long and half as big around as a telegraph pole.
Tales of Fishes|Zane Grey
We circled him three times with flying-fish bait and once with barracuda, and as he paid no attention to them we left him.
Tales of Fishes|Zane Grey
One night he brought in an eighty-pound barracuda but usually the larger fish cost him line, leader or spoon.
Terry|Charles Goff Thomson
Barracuda come right up to the shore, and likewise the big sharks.
Tales of Fishes|Zane Grey

British Dictionary definitions for barracuda

barracuda

/ (ˌbærəˈkjuːdə) /

noun plural -da or -das

any predatory marine teleost fish of the mostly tropical family Sphyraenidae, esp Sphyraena barracuda . They have an elongated body, strong teeth, and a protruding lower jaw

Word Origin for barracuda

C17: from American Spanish, of unknown origin

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