lamprey
Americannoun
-
lampreys
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of lamprey
1250–1300; Middle English lampreye < Anglo-French *lampreie ( Old French lamproie ) < Late Latin lamprēda; replacing Old English lamprede < Medieval Latin lampreda
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.
See Examples For:
A spokesperson said trout, eels and lamprey were all confirmed dead.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
The River Lugg is home to six protected and endangered species, including common otter, Atlantic salmon, white clawed crayfish, brook lamprey, shad and bullhead.
From BBC ● May 26, 2026
A recent independent U.K. report on the nuclear sector found it would spare the lives of 0.028 sea trout, six river lamprey, 18 allis shad and 528 twaite shad every year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 12, 2025
In contrast, he says, lamprey cartilage is soft and flexible, as if their skeleton “is one big joint.”
From Science Magazine ● Apr. 25, 2024
He shunned the lamprey pie and tried only one small spoonful of the stew.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
The Environment Agency found that 2,100 fish died, including eels and lampreys both endangered and protected species.
From BBC ● Nov. 11, 2024
Taking down the dams will give the Klamath’s fish — including salmon, steelhead and lampreys — the opportunity to reconnect with their ancestral habitats.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 3, 2024
Then they did similar analyses on juvenile sharks and lampreys.
From Science Magazine ● Apr. 25, 2024
The new study identified a common molecular cue, while known to direct head-to-tail patterning in a wide variety of animals, as part of the gene circuitry guiding hindbrain patterning in sea lampreys.
From Science Daily ● Feb. 21, 2024
On the dais, Lord Wyman attacked a steaming plate of lampreys as if they were an enemy host.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
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