lamprey

American  

[lam-pree] / ˈlæm pri /

noun

plural

lampreys

1. any eellike marine or freshwater fish of the order Petromyzoniformes, having a circular, suctorial mouth with horny teeth for boring into the flesh of other fishes to feed on their blood.

---

lamprey British  

/ ˈlæmprɪ /

noun

1. Also called: lamper eel.  any eel-like cyclostome vertebrate of the family Petromyzonidae, having a round sucking mouth for clinging to and feeding on the blood of other animals See also sea lamprey

---

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

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

Fish passage has also been opened for other species recorded in the river, including the critically endangered European eel as well as grayling, trout, lamprey, minnow, stone loach, and bullhead.

From BBC • Nov. 13, 2025

The Australian brook lamprey is thought to be extinct where it was first described, in southern NSW.

From Science Daily • May 8, 2024

In contrast, no such cavities formed in the developing lamprey skeleton.

From Science Magazine • Apr. 25, 2024

Since the hour he had arrived in the Red Ke^p, Lady Tanda had been stalking him, armed with a never-ending arsenal of lamprey pies, wild boars, and savory cream stews.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin