# salmon

/ˈsæmən/ (US) · /sˈæmən/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. the fish

noun · CEFR A2

a large fish with silver skin and pink meat that lives in the sea but swims up rivers to lay eggs.

For teachers: any of various large food and game fishes of the family Salmonidae, noted for their upstream spawning migrations.

- Every year, the salmon swim back to the same river where they were born.
- Conservationists are concerned that rising water temperatures are disrupting the annual migration of wild salmon to their spawning grounds.

### 2. the food

noun · CEFR A2

the pink meat of the salmon fish, eaten as food.

For teachers: the flesh of the salmon fish used as a culinary ingredient, typically characterized by its high oil content and pinkish-orange hue.

- We had grilled salmon with lemon and herbs for dinner.
- The chef recommended the smoked salmon appetizer, served with a delicate horseradish cream and toasted rye bread.

### 3. the colour

noun · CEFR B1

a pale pinkish-orange colour, like the meat of the fish.

For teachers: a light to moderate pinkish-orange colour.

- The walls of the bedroom were painted a soft salmon.
- The sky turned a brilliant salmon as the sun dipped below the horizon, reflecting off the calm waters of the bay.

### 4. colour description

adjective · CEFR B1

having a pale pinkish-orange colour.

For teachers: of a pale pinkish-orange colour; non-gradable when referring to the specific hue.

- He wore a salmon shirt that matched his summer tan.
- The bridesmaids wore salmon silk dresses that complemented the floral arrangements in the garden.

### 5. cycling the wrong way

verb · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

to ride a bicycle the wrong way against traffic on a one-way street.

For teachers: to cycle against the flow of traffic on a one-way street or in a dedicated bike lane.

- It is dangerous to salmon through the city during rush hour.
- The city council is considering stricter fines for cyclists who salmon, citing an increase in near-miss accidents with pedestrians.

Usage: The verb is intransitive and typically used in urban cycling contexts.

## Examples

- We had grilled salmon and vegetables for dinner.
- The restaurant is famous for serving fresh wild salmon caught in the local river every morning.
- Conservationists are concerned that rising water temperatures and hydroelectric dams are preventing salmon from reaching their traditional spawning grounds, threatening the entire local ecosystem.

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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.