Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of marine fish: "bonito" refers to any of several medium-sized, predatory fish species belonging to the family Scombridae, which are related to mackerels and tunas. They are characterized by their streamlined bodies and are often found in warm seas.
   • A food fish: Specifically, "bonito" can refer to fish whose flesh is dried, smoked, and flaked to make a foundational ingredient (katsuobushi) in Japanese cuisine.
   • The flesh of this fish: "bonito" also denotes the edible meat of these fish, which is valued for cooking.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The angler caught a large bonito just offshore.
  • Authentic dashi broth is made with shavings of dried bonito.
  • The market sells fresh bonito steaks for grilling.

Advanced Usage

• "Bonito flakes" (katsuobushi): Dried, fermented, and smoked bonito fish that is shaved into thin flakes. This is a compound noun where "bonito" acts as a modifier.
  • The chef garnished the takoyaki with a handful of bonito flakes.

Variants and Related Words

• Striped bonito (n): A specific species of bonito ().
• Atlantic bonito (n): A species () found in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.
• Oceanic bonito (n): Another name for the skipjack tuna (), which is sometimes referred to as "bonito" in certain contexts, highlighting the intermediate characteristics mentioned in the definition.

Synonyms

• Skipjack (n): A type of tuna often closely associated with or confused for bonito.
• Little tunny (n): A small tuna species () that shares similar characteristics.

Related Phrases

(Note: "Bonito" itself is not commonly used in phrasal verbs. The following are related culinary phrases.) - Shaved bonito: Refers to the prepared katsuobushi flakes. - The soup is finished with a topping of shaved bonito.

Related Idioms

(There are no common English idioms that feature the word "bonito.")

Noun

1. any of various scombroid fishes intermediate in size and characteristics between mackerels and tunas
2. fish whose flesh is dried and flaked for Japanese cookery; may be same species as skipjack tuna
3. flesh of mostly Pacific food fishes of the genus Sarda of the family Scombridae; related to but smaller than tuna