characin

American  

[kar-uh-sin] / ˈkær ə sɪn /

Or characid

noun

1. any freshwater fish of the family Characidae, of Africa and Central and South America.

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characin British  

/ ˈkærəsɪn /

noun

1. any small carnivorous freshwater cyprinoid fish of the family Characidae, of Central and South America and Africa. They are similar to the carps but more brightly coloured

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Etymology

Origin of characin

1880–85; < New Latin Characinidae name of family, equivalent to Characin ( us ) the genus ( charac- (< Greek charak-, stem of chárax pointed stake, a sea fish) + -inus -in ¹ ) + -idae -idae

Example Sentences

Fish Adjusts Its Shape to Lure Hungry Females The male of a small freshwater fish, the swordtail characin, tempts females with an ornamental lure that looks like food.

From New York Times

The way to a woman's heart is through her stomach—at least for the swordtail characin.

From Science Magazine