Definition

Noun 1. A small, aggressive, carnivorous freshwater fish native to South America, known for attacking and consuming living animals. This fish is a member of the family Characidae, specifically the genus Pygocentrus or Serrasalmus.

Usage

The word "caribe" is a specific common name for a type of piranha. It is used as a countable noun. * The river is infamous for its population of caribes. * A single caribe can inflict a serious wound. * Local fishermen are wary of the caribe in these waters.

Examples

• Explorers reported being attacked by schools of caribe.
• The caribe is often characterized by its sharp teeth and powerful jaws.
• Despite their fearsome reputation, caribes are an important part of the aquatic ecosystem.

Advanced Usage

• The term is used in biological and zoological contexts to describe this particular group of fish.
• It can be used metaphorically to describe a person or group that is aggressively voracious or destructive.
  • The tabloid journalists descended on the scandal like a school of caribes.

Variants and Related Words

• Piranha: The more common general name for fish of the subfamily Serrasalminae, which includes the caribe. "Caribe" often refers specifically to the red-bellied piranha ().
• Characin: A member of the family Characidae, which includes tetras, piranhas (caribes), and related fish.

Synonyms

• Piranha
• (Informal) Man-eating fish

Notes

• "Caribe" is a loanword from Spanish, which itself borrowed it from a Cariban language.
• The plural form is "caribes."
• This word is less common in everyday English than "piranha," but is standard in scientific and regional descriptions.

Noun

1. small voraciously carnivorous freshwater fishes of South America that attack and destroy living animals