/kar"euh sin/ , n.
any freshwater fish of the family Characidae, of Africa and Central and South America.
Also, characid .
[ 1880-85; Characinidae name of family, equiv. to Characin ( us ) the genus ( charac- ( charak-, s. of chárax pointed stake, a sea fish) + -inus -IN 1 ) + -idae -IDAE ]