I. ˈshärk, ˈshȧk noun
( -s )
Etymology: origin unknown
1.
a. : any of numerous elasmobranch fishes that conform more or less nearly to the ordinary fishes in the fusiform shape of the body and lateral position of the gill clefts as distinguished from the greatly flattened rays and the grotesquely shaped chimaeras, that are mostly marine and though widely distributed most abundant in warm seas, that are usually of medium or large size including the largest existing fishes, that have a tough, usually dull gray, and sometimes conspicuously spotted skin which is roughened by minute tubercles, strongly heterocercal tail, and a snout produced beyond the mouth, that may be active, voracious, and rapacious predators including some which are dangerous to man or sluggish bottom dwellers feeding chiefly on mollusks, and that are of economic importance for their flesh which is in some cases used as food, for their large livers which are a source of oil, and for their hides from which leather is made — see basking shark , blue shark , dogfish , hammerhead , man-eater , porbeagle ; compare chondrichthyes , selachii
b. : a living or extinct elasmobranch other than a skate or ray
2. : any of several large voracious fishes (as the goonch)
3. : a synchronized swimming stunt in which the body while lying on one side parallel to the surface with the back arched and the top arm extended overhead in line with the body is propelled in a circle headfirst by the action of the bottom arm
[s]shark.jpg[/s] [
shark: 1 mako, 2 tiger, 3 thresher, 4 hammerhead, 5 great white
]
II. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
1. : to fish for sharks
2. : to prey or swim like a shark
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably modification (influenced in form and meaning by shark ) (I) of German schurke scoundrel
1. obsolete : parasite , sponge , sharper
2. : a rapacious crafty person who gains by usury, extortion, swindling, or trickery
a mortgage shark
sharks of the poolroom and racetrack
3. slang Britain : a customs officer
4. : one who excels greatly especially in a particular line : an exceptionally capable or brilliant person
IV. verb
Etymology: shark (I) & shark (III)
transitive verb
archaic : to get or gather together rapaciously or by fraud, trickery, or other irregular means : get by playing the shark
intransitive verb
1. : to play the sharper : practice fraud or trickery
2. : to live by shifts and stratagems
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- shark on