lamprey

noun

lam·​prey ˈlam-prē How to pronounce lamprey (audio)
-ˌprā
plural lampreys
: any of a family (Petromyzontidae) of eel-shaped freshwater or anadromous jawless fishes that include those cyclostomes having well-developed eyes and a large disk-shaped suctorial mouth armed with horny teeth

called also lamprey eel

Examples of lamprey in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The McKenzie Watershed Alliance, an environmental organization out of Springfield, was awarded $8.5 million in federal funding to restore floodplains along the Willamette River, which will in turn aid species like the Chinook salmon, bull trout and Pacific lamprey. Axios Portland, Axios, 30 July 2024 In addition to lacking jaws, lampreys were also thought to lack sympathetic nervous systems. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 May 2024 Moffatt had found lampreys at several new sites, well into the tropical zone above the Tropic of Capricorn. Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 10 May 2024 Taking down the dams will give the Klamath’s fish — including salmon, steelhead and lampreys — the opportunity to reconnect with their ancestral habitats. Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for lamprey 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lamprey.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French lampreie, from Medieval Latin lampreda

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lamprey was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near lamprey

Cite this Entry

“Lamprey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lamprey. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.

Kids Definition

lamprey

noun
lam·​prey ˈlam-prē How to pronounce lamprey (audio)
-ˌprā
plural lampreys
: any of a family of jawless fishes that resemble eels and have a large sucking mouth with horny teeth

More from Merriam-Webster on lamprey

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