Langimage
English

jellyfish

|jel/ly/fish|

B1

/ˈdʒɛliˌfɪʃ/

gelatinous marine animal

Etymology
Etymology Information

'jellyfish' originates from the combination of 'jelly' and 'fish', where 'jelly' refers to the gelatinous substance and 'fish' refers to the aquatic nature.

Historical Evolution

'jellyfish' was first used in the 18th century to describe the gelatinous marine animal.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it referred to the marine animal, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

a free-swimming marine coelenterate with a gelatinous umbrella-shaped bell and trailing tentacles.

The jellyfish drifted gracefully through the water.

Synonyms

Noun 2

a person lacking backbone or firmness.

He was such a jellyfish when it came to making decisions.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2025/04/13 09:18