tuna

[ too-nuh, tyoo- ]

/ ˈtu nə, ˈtyu- /

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noun, plural (especially collectively) tu·na, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) tu·nas.

any of several large food and game fishes of the family Scombridae, inhabiting temperate and tropical seas.Compare albacore, bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna.

any of various related fishes.

Also called tuna fish . the flesh of the tuna, used as food.

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Origin of tuna

An Americanism first recorded in 1880–85; from Spanish (California), variant of Spanish atún, from Arabic al “the” + tūn, from Greek thýnnos tunny

Words nearby tuna

tumult, tumultuary, tumultuous, tumulus, tun, tuna, tunable, Tunbridge ware, Tunbridge Wells, tundish, tundra

Other definitions for tuna (2 of 2)

tuna²

[ too-nuh, tyoo- ]

/ ˈtu nə, ˈtyu- /

noun

any of various prickly pears, prickly pears, especially either of two erect, treelike species, Opuntia tuna or O. ficus-indica, of Mexico, bearing a sweet, edible fruit.

the fruit of these plants.

Origin of tuna

First recorded in 1545–55; from Spanish, from Taíno

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use tuna in a sentence

Their salmon is already sold out, but you can still get the tuna.
From the Cut: 33 Valentine’s Day Gifts for the Foodie in Your Life|The Cut Staff|February 8, 2021|Eater
The complaint alleges the ingredient billed as “tuna” for the chain’s sandwiches and wraps contains absolutely no tuna.
Subway’s tuna is not tuna, but a ‘mixture of various concoctions,’ a lawsuit alleges|Tim Carman|January 27, 2021|Washington Post
Shredded tuna turns into a wispy tan cloud when it’s deep-fried.
Tom Sietsema’s 8 favorite places to eat right now|Tom Sietsema|January 26, 2021|Washington Post
“We do believe we can extract and utilize the resources of the moon, just as we can extract and utilize tuna from the ocean,” he said earlier this year.
A dollar can’t buy you a cup of coffee but that’s what NASA intends to pay for some moon rocks|Christian Davenport|December 3, 2020|Washington Post

By the time I finished The Outlaw Ocean, I couldn’t open a can of tuna without imagining a trickle of human blood oozing out.
The New Wave of Fishless Fish Is Here|Rowan Jacobsen|November 24, 2020|Outside Online
Champagne, which is also acidic, offers a nice complement to anything from tuna tartare to beef bourguignon.
Champagne: You’re Drinking It All Wrong|Kayleigh Kulp|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
While the President chomped on his tuna fish sandwich, the Blackhawk pilot explained the details of his crash.
I Shot Bin Laden|Elliot Ackerman|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His cannabis-infused menus range from truffle tuna casserole and coconut chicken to French toast and omelets.
Meet the Julia Child of Weed|Justin Jones|November 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The next step was to steal one of the six pound tuna cans from the warehouse.
Tales of a Jailhouse Gourmet: How I learned to Cook in Prison|Daniel Genis|June 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The birdman cooked the flesh in his ‘kitchen’, which was a tuna can on top of an ‘eye’ just like mine.
Tales of a Jailhouse Gourmet: How I learned to Cook in Prison|Daniel Genis|June 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I suppose you would like to come instead, and from what I hear I think I'll put off that trip and try tuna again to-morrow.
The Boy With the U. S. Fisheries|Francis Rolt-Wheeler
The sea fairly seemed to boil as the fin of the tuna cut through the water at the surface.
The Boy With the U. S. Fisheries|Francis Rolt-Wheeler
Once more the tuna came up to the surface with a rush in order to get slack enough for a plunge.
The Boy With the U. S. Fisheries|Francis Rolt-Wheeler
The tuna, although a wonderful leaper, hardly ever rises from the water after it is fast to the line.
The Boy With the U. S. Fisheries|Francis Rolt-Wheeler
I have caught many tuna with Sam, and hooked big ones, but these giants are still roving the blue deeps.
Tales of Fishes|Zane Grey

British Dictionary definitions for tuna (1 of 2)

tuna¹

/ (ˈtjuːnə) /

noun plural -na or -nas

Also called: tunny any of various large marine spiny-finned fishes of the genus Thunnus, esp T. thynnus, chiefly of warm waters: family Scombridae . They have a spindle-shaped body and widely forked tail, and are important food fishes

any of various similar and related fishes

Word Origin for tuna

C20: from American Spanish, from Spanish atún, from Arabic tūn, from Latin thunnus tunny, from Greek

British Dictionary definitions for tuna (2 of 2)

tuna²

/ (ˈtjuːnə) /

noun

any of various tropical American prickly pear cacti, esp Opuntia tuna, that are cultivated for their sweet edible fruits

the fruit of any of these cacti

Word Origin for tuna

C16: via Spanish from Taino

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012