# Murray

/ˈməɹi/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. a name

noun · CEFR B1

a common Scottish family name or a man's first name.

For teachers: a Scottish surname of Gaelic origin, also frequently used as a masculine given name.

- Murray is a very common surname in Scotland and parts of Ireland.
- The professor introduced himself as Murray Davidson, noting that his first name had been passed down through three generations of his family.

### 2. geography

noun · CEFR B2

the longest river in Australia.

For teachers: the Murray River, which is Australia's longest river and forms a major part of the Murray-Darling basin.

- The Murray River flows through several Australian states and is vital for farming.
- Irrigation along the Murray has transformed the surrounding arid landscape into a productive agricultural region, though environmental concerns remain a priority.

### 3. a type of fish

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

an old way of spelling 'moray', a type of eel.

For teachers: an obsolete or archaic variant spelling of 'moray', referring to the moray eel.

- In very old books, you might see the word murray used to describe an eel.
- The naturalist's 17th-century journal contained a detailed sketch of a 'murray', which modern readers would immediately recognise as a moray eel.

## Examples

- The old king wore a heavy cloak of murray silk.
- The museum display featured a well-preserved murray doublet from the late sixteenth century, showing the deep purple dye favored by the elite.
- The tapestry had faded over the centuries, turning the once-vibrant murray threads into a muted, dusty rose that barely hinted at the original regal splendor of the hall.

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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.