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goldfish

American  
[gohld-fish] / ˈgoʊldˌfɪʃ /

noun

plural

goldfish,

plural

goldfishes
  1. a small, usually yellow or orange fish, Carassius auratus, of the carp family, native to China, bred in many varieties and often kept in fishbowls and pools.

  2. garibaldi.


goldfish British  
/ ˈɡəʊldˌfɪʃ /

noun

  1. a freshwater cyprinid fish, Carassius auratus, of E Europe and Asia, esp China, widely introduced as a pond or aquarium fish. It resembles the carp and has a typically golden or orange-red coloration

  2. any of certain similar ornamental fishes, esp the golden orfe See orfe

"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

Etymology

Origin of goldfish

First recorded in 1690–1700; gold + fish

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.

She also asks if "the birds are well, and the goldfish haven't died".

From BBC

One of the features of a culture with the brains of a goldfish is that it also has the memory of a goldfish.

From MarketWatch

To make eating fun, we serve them chicken nuggets shaped like dinosaurs and crackers shaped like goldfish.

From The Wall Street Journal

The one-page note, addressed to the head housemaid at Royal Lodge in Windsor, includes drawings of dogs, horses and young children and asks if "the birds are well, and the goldfish haven't died".

From BBC

Younger kids can romp around on rolling blue installations that mimic waves, slide a 'Ponyo' figure across an ocean wall, or hide in a replica of Sosuke's green bucket which he used to collect goldfish.

From Barron's