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 That includes salmon, steelhead, lampreys, other fish that normally call that river home. Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024 Research from 2021 threw some cold water on the idea that humans and lampreys are more closely related, based on fossils of Paleozoic lamprey larvae. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 Feb. 2024 Again, Seneca tells us that Augustus ordered Pollio’s crystal smashed and all his lamprey pools filled. Iain Murray, National Review, 16 Dec. 2023 This includes not just salmon but also creatures like lampreys—primitive, jawless fish with toothy mouths that suction to their hosts. Solutions for migratory fish exist, like fish ladders or fishways, which provide a detour in the form of ascending pools. Alka Tripathy-Lang, Ars Technica, 11 Jan. 2024 Populations of lamprey and sturgeon, other important nutritional staples, also plummeted — and diabetes among tribe members spiked. Melina Mara, Washington Post, 14 Dec. 2023 Augustus, however, intervened, and ordered all of Pollio’s crystal ware to be smashed and all his lamprey pools to be filled in. Iain Murray, National Review, 16 Dec. 2023 These early lampreys also didn’t go through metamorphosis. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Nov. 2023 Today, Grand Ronde tribal members have a limited ability to fish for lamprey and salmon at Willamette Falls under agreements with the state of Oregon. oregonlive, 9 Aug. 2023

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 Mar. 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

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