Also called garfish, garpike. any predaceous freshwater fish of the genus Lepisosteus, of North America, covered with hard, diamond-shaped scales and having long jaws with needlelike teeth.
Scot. to compel or force (someone) to do something.
Scot. and North England Obsolete. to do, perform, or cause.
1755–65, shortened form of garfish
1250–1300; Middle English geren, garren, gairen < Old Norse gera to do, make; akin to Old English gearwian to prepare
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The lubricating proteins were abundant in the fish’s jaws and in the fins of zebra fish, gar, and sticklebacks, the scientists reported.
From Science Magazine • Apr. 25, 2024
The gar can grow up to 10 feet and prefers sluggish bodies of water such as the artificial lake in Ruzhou, he said.
From Washington Post • Aug. 25, 2022
He also said voters had responded positively to his party's plans to cut VAT using the proceeds from a windfall tax on the profits of oil and gar companies.
From BBC • May 6, 2022
Even though modern bony fishes are much more diverse today, a previous study found that in the past they were not as numerous or varied as holosteans—the prehistoric relatives of today’s gar and paddlefish.
From Scientific American • Mar. 23, 2022
There were eels, gar, carp, river carpsuckers, gizzard shad, and buffalo.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
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.
