moray

[ mawr-ey, mohr-ey; maw-rey, moh- ]

noun,plural mo·rays.

any of numerous chiefly tropical eels of the family Muraenidae, having porelike gill openings and no pectoral fins.

Origin of moray

1615–25, Americanism;<Portuguese moréia<Latin mūraena<Greek mȳ́raina lamprey

Also called moray eel .

Words Nearby moray

Other definitions for Moray (2 of 2)

Moray

[ mur-ee ]

noun

a historic county in NE Scotland, on Moray Firth.

Formerly Elgin.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use moray in a sentence

Most fish are suction feeders, and require water to help usher food into their bellies, but the snowflake moray overcomes this with its unique physiology.
Moray eels enjoy surf ‘n turf with a surprise second set of jaws | Claire Maldarelli | June 22, 2021 | Popular-Science
Over six years, Mehta, her co-author Kyle Donohoe, and various students would use reinforcements to train morays to feed on the ramps inside their custom tanks.
Moray eels enjoy surf ‘n turf with a surprise second set of jaws | Claire Maldarelli | June 22, 2021 | Popular-Science
In fact, she remembers, local fishermen often caught morays by placing squids on the shore and waiting for the eels to arrive.
Moray eels enjoy surf ‘n turf with a surprise second set of jaws | Claire Maldarelli | June 22, 2021 | Popular-Science
According to the Daily Mirror, William is keen to transfer to RAF Lossiemouth, moray, in 2013.
Is Kate Middleton Pregnant? Royal Baby Watch Heats Up. | Tom Sykes | November 17, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
In front of her house (moray Place) stood a cart of coals, which the poor victim of the carter was unable to drag along.
Library Notes | A. P. Russell

She was the daughter of Randolph, Earl of moray, and inherited from her father a fierce, intrepid spirit.
Female Warriors, Vol. I (of 2) | Ellen C. Clayton
James of Douglas, seeing that moray was very hard pressed, asked the king's permission to go to his assistance.
Battles of English History | H. B. (Hereford Brooke) George
The estate belongs to the Earl of moray, the owner of Doune and of many broad lands in the north.
The Rivers of Great Britain: Rivers of the East Coast | Various
Twenty-six new species of crustacea were discovered by himself alone in the moray Firth.
Chambers's Journal of Popular Literature, Science, and Art | Various

British Dictionary definitions for moray (1 of 3)

moray

/ (mɒˈreɪ) /

nounplural -rays

any voracious marine coastal eel of the family Muraenidae, esp Muraena helena, marked with brilliant patterns and colours

Origin of moray

C17: from Portuguese moréia, from Latin mūrēna, from Greek muraina

British Dictionary definitions for Moray (2 of 3)

Moray¹

/ (ˈmʌrɪ) /

noun

a council area and historical county of NE Scotland: part of Grampian region from 1975 to 1996: mainly hilly, with the Cairngorm mountains in the S. Administrative centre: Elgin. Pop: 87 460 (2003 est). Area: 2238 sq km (874 sq miles): Former name: Elgin

British Dictionary definitions for Moray (3 of 3)

Moray²

Murray

/ (ˈmʌrɪ) /

noun

1st Earl of, title of James Stuart. ?1531–70, regent of Scotland (1567–70) following the abdication of Mary, Queen of Scots, his half-sister. He defeated Mary and Bothwell at Langside (1568); assassinated by a follower of Mary

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