Word
eel
US/ˈiɫ/
UK/ˈiːl/
Definition
n. a long, thin fish that looks like a snake. You can find them in both fresh and salt water, and some people eat them as a delicacy.
n. a snake-like fish belonging to the order Anguilliformes, characterized by an elongated body and the absence of pelvic fins.
Examples
“The eel hides among the rocks in the river.”
“While snorkeling near the reef, we saw a moray eel peeking out from a small cave.”
“The life cycle of the European eel remains a biological mystery, as the adults migrate thousands of miles to the Sargasso Sea to spawn before they die.”
Examples
simple
“The eel hides among the rocks in the river.”
contextual
“While snorkeling near the reef, we saw a moray eel peeking out from a small cave.”
complex
“The life cycle of the European eel remains a biological mystery, as the adults migrate thousands of miles to the Sargasso Sea to spawn before they die.”
Usage
The plural form can be 'eel' when referring to the animal as food or a collective group, but 'eels' is standard for individual fish.
Idioms
slippery as an eel — Very crafty or cunning.