# Minn

CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/minn
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a small, silver-colored fish that lives in fresh water. People often use them as bait for catching larger fish.

For teachers: any of various small freshwater fishes of the family Cyprinidae, often used as live bait or for scientific research.

## Examples

- The children tried to catch a minnow in the shallow stream.
- The fisherman filled his bucket with minnows before heading out to the middle of the lake to catch bass.
- In the local ecosystem, the minnow serves as a vital link in the food chain, providing sustenance for larger predatory fish and various aquatic birds.

## Usage notes

- The plural form is typically 'minnows', though 'minnow' can occasionally be used as a collective plural in technical contexts.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.