salmon

American  

[sam-uhn] / ˈsæm ən /

noun

plural

salmons,

plural

salmon

1. a marine and freshwater food fish, Salmo salar, of the family Salmonidae, having pink flesh, inhabiting waters off the North Atlantic coasts of Europe and North America near the mouths of large rivers, which it enters to spawn.

2. landlocked salmon.

3. any of several salmonoid food fishes of the genus Oncorhynchus, inhabiting the North Pacific Ocean.

4. a light yellowish-pink.

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adjective

1. of the color salmon.

salmon British  

/ ˈsæmən /

noun

1. any soft-finned fish of the family Salmonidae, esp Salmo salar of the Atlantic and Oncorhynchus species (sockeye, Chinook, etc) of the Pacific, which are important food fishes. They occur in cold and temperate waters and many species migrate to fresh water to spawn

2. any of several unrelated fish, esp the Australian salmon

3. short for salmon pink

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Other Word Forms

• salmonlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of salmon

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English salmoun, samoun, from Anglo-French from Old French saumon, or directly from Latin salmōn-, stem of salmō

Example Sentences

When I learned to cook salmon well at home, I felt briefly omnipotent.

From Salon

We’re not like the Chinook salmon that seek out upriver spawning zones or feline species that go into heat each spring and summer.

From Salon

You don’t think: I’ll never forget eating a salmon avocado roll in those buttery soft, cushioned seats.

From The Wall Street Journal

Environmental and fishing groups also oppose the plan, saying the federal government is slashing protections for salmon and other fish that are already struggling.

From Los Angeles Times

EDF says it is also working on a system that salmon can hear.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• cardinal
• coral
• crimson
• flaming
• glowing
• maroon
• rose
• wine