dragonfish
Americannoun
plural
dragonfish,plural
dragonfishes-
any marine fish of the family Bathydraconidae, of the Southern Ocean, having an elongated body and flattened head and being biochemically adapted to extremely low temperatures.
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Also called seamoth. any fish of the family Pegasidae, of tropical Indo-Pacific waters, having armor of bony rings and large, horizontal, fanlike pectoral fins.
Etymology
Origin of dragonfish
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.
In its larval stage, the female black dragonfish has eyestalks that can reach half its body length and allow her to see farther in the deep.
From National Geographic • Feb. 7, 2024
A dragonfish and eggs on the Antarctic reef floor.
From Slate • Nov. 26, 2013
The dragonfish mother stands guard for most of this time; an angry dragonfish once even bit through a diver’s glove when he came for some of her eggs.
From Slate • Nov. 26, 2013
The technique of mimicking a non-threatening or tasty species to lure prey is known as aggressive mimicry, and it’s seen in other deep-sea creatures such as anglerfish, viperfish and dragonfish.
From Scientific American • Aug. 28, 2013
A fully grown dragonfish, which Yap says aspiring Chinese businessmen gravitate to, can fetch up to $20,000 — each.
From Time • Jan. 22, 2010
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.
