Eel

/iːl/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A long, slender fish of the order Anguilliformes, characterized by a serpentine body and a lack of pelvic fins.

The chef prepared a delicious dish using fresh eel from the market.

Any of various similar or related fishes, such as the moray eel or the freshwater eel.

During our scuba dive, we spotted a moray eel hiding in the coral.

A term used in context to describe a sneaky or deceitful person.

He was as slippery as an eel when it came to avoiding responsibility.

Middle English: from Old English 'ǣel', of unknown origin.

electric eel

A type of knifefish capable of generating electric shocks.

eeling

The act of fishing for eels.

anguilla

The scientific genus that includes true eels.

eelgrass

A type of seagrass that often provides habitat for eels.

To slip away or escape easily.

I tried to hold onto him, but he just eeled out of my grasp.

To behave in a sly or sneaky manner.

Stop eeling around and just tell me the truth.