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piranha
[ pi-rahn-yuh, -ran- or, often, -rah-nuh, -ran-uh ]
/ pɪˈrɑn yə, -ˈræn- or, often, -ˈrɑ nə, -ˈræn ə /
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noun, plural pi·ra·nhas, (especially collectively) pi·ra·nha.
any of several small South American freshwater fishes of the genus Serrasalmus that eat other fish and sometimes plants but occasionally also attack humans and other large animals that enter the water.
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Also called caribe.
Origin of piranha
1865–70; <Portuguese <Tupi
Words nearby piranha
piracy, Piraeus, piragua, Pirandello, Piranesi, piranha, Pirapóra, pirarucu, pirate, pirate perch, Pirates of Penzance
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use piranha in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for piranha
piranha
piraa
/ (pɪˈrɑːnjə) /
noun
any of various small freshwater voracious fishes of the genus Serrasalmus and related genera, of tropical America, having strong jaws and sharp teeth: family Characidae (characins)
Word Origin for piranha
C19: via Portuguese from Tupi: fish with teeth, from pirá fish + sainha tooth
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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