Definition

Noun: 1. A type of marine ray (fish): A shark-like fish characterized by a very broad, flat body and wing-like pectoral fins, but which swims in the manner of a shark. 2. A type of food fish: A deep-bodied, disk-shaped fish found as a food source in the warmer coastal waters of the western Atlantic Ocean. 3. A type of tropical aquarium fish: A brightly colored butterfly fish, often kept in aquariums, belonging to the genus Pomacanthus.

Examples

• The angelfish glided through the deep water, its wide, flat body resembling a ray.
• Fishermen in the Caribbean sometimes catch angelfish for local markets.
• The saltwater aquarium featured a stunning blue and yellow angelfish.

Advanced Usage

• The term "angelfish" is used for several unrelated fish species, distinguished by context (marine biology vs. aquarium hobby). The shark-like ray is sometimes specifically called an "angel shark."

Variants and Related Words

• Angel shark (n): Another common name for the shark-like ray referred to as an angelfish.
• Pomacanthus (n): The scientific genus name for many of the popular tropical marine angelfish.

Synonyms

• For the shark-like ray: Monkfish, Squatina (the scientific genus name).
• For the tropical fish: Butterfly fish (a related family).

Different Meanings

This word has three distinct primary meanings, all referring to different types of fish: 1. A bottom-dwelling ray (Order Squatiniformes). 2. A round, edible fish (Family Ephippidae). 3. A colorful, spiny-rayed tropical fish (Family Pomacanthidae).

Noun

1. sharks with broad flat bodies and winglike pectoral fins but that swim the way sharks do
2. deep-bodied disk-shaped food fish of warmer western Atlantic coastal waters
3. a butterfly fish of the genus Pomacanthus