angelfish
|an - gel - fish|
/ˈeɪndʒəlˌfɪʃ/
graceful, wing-like fish
Etymology
'angelfish' is a compound word formed from 'angel' and 'fish', where 'angel' refers to the fish's graceful, wing-like fins.
'angelfish' was first recorded in English in the 18th century to describe the freshwater species, and later also used for certain marine species.
Initially, it referred specifically to the freshwater aquarium fish, but later expanded to include several marine species with similar graceful appearances.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a small, brightly colored freshwater fish of the cichlid family, popular in aquariums, native to South America.
The angelfish swam gracefully among the plants in the aquarium.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a marine fish of the family Pomacanthidae, found in warm seas, often brightly colored.
We saw a beautiful angelfish while snorkeling in the coral reef.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/06 18:21