plural
fish
or
fishes
plural
fish
or
fishes
Britannica Dictionary definition of FISH
1
[count]
:
a cold-blooded animal that lives in water, breathes with gills, and usually has fins and scales
—
see color picture on this page
Usage
When you are talking about more than one fish, the plural fish is more commonly used than fishes.
When you are talking about more than one kind or species of fish, both fishes and fish are used.
2
[noncount]
:
the meat of a fish eaten as food
a big fish in a small pond
(chiefly US)
or British
a big fish in a little pond
:
a person who is very well known or important in a small group of people but who is not known or important outside that group
a fish out of water
:
a person who is in a place or situation that seems unnatural or uncomfortable
drink like a fish
—
see 1drink
fish in the sea
informal
—
used to say that there are many more people available for a romantic relationship
fish to fry
informal
:
things to do or deal with
neither fish nor fowl
:
a person or thing that does not belong to a particular class or category
odd/queer fish
British, informal
:
a strange or unusual person
— fishless
/ˈfɪʃləs/
adjective
— fishlike
/ˈfɪsˌlaɪk/
adjective
2
fish
/ˈfɪʃ/
verb
fishes;
fished;
fishing
fishes;
fished;
fishing
Britannica Dictionary definition of FISH
1
a
[no object]
:
to catch or try to catch fish
b
[+ object]
:
to catch or try to catch fish in (a river, stream, etc.)
2
[no object]
:
to search for something by feeling
:
to use your hand to try to find something
fish for
[phrasal verb]
fish for (something)
:
to ask for or try to get (something, such as praise or attention) in an indirect way
fish or cut bait
US, informal
:
to stop hesitating and choose to do or not do something
fish out
[phrasal verb]
1
fish (something) out
or
fish out (something)
:
to pull (something) out of water or some other liquid
2
:
to pull (something) out from a container, bag, etc.