(~, or ~es, ~es, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
Note: The form '~' is usually used for the plural, but '~es' can also be used.
1.
A ~ is a creature that lives in water and has a tail and fins. There are many different kinds of ~.
I was chatting to an islander who had just caught a ~...
The ~ were counted and an average weight recorded.
N-COUNT
2.
Fish is the flesh of a ~ eaten as food.
Does dry white wine go best with ~?
N-UNCOUNT
3.
If you ~, you try to catch ~, either for food or as a form of sport or recreation.
Brian remembers learning to ~ in the River Cam.
VERB: V
4.
If you ~ a particular area of water, you try to catch ~ in it.
On Saturday we ~ed the River Arno.
VERB: V n
5.
If you say that someone is ~ing for information or praise, you disapprove of the fact that they are trying to get it from someone in an indirect way.
He didn’t want to create the impression that he was ~ing for information...
‘Lucinda, you don’t have to talk to him!’ Mike shouted. ‘He’s just ~ing.’
= angle
VERB: V for n, V disapproval
6.
see also ~ing
7.
If you tell someone that there are plenty more ~ in the sea, you are comforting them by saying that although their relationship with someone has failed, there are many other people they can have relationships with. (INFORMAL)
PHRASE