topminnow

noun

top·​min·​now ˈtäp-ˌmi-(ˌ)nō How to pronounce topminnow (audio)
: any of several live-bearers (family Poeciliidae) or killifish (family Cyprinodontidae)

Examples of topminnow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Just days before the Gila topminnow were reintroduced, nonnative mosquitofish appeared in the stream. Ian James, AZCentral.com, 8 Sep. 2021 There were no native fish in the downtown stretch of the Santa Cruz until October, when Bogan witnessed the reintroduction of Gila topminnow. Ian James, AZCentral.com, 8 Sep. 2021 Beneath its dull green surface teems a population of Atlantic killifish, a silvery topminnow that's common along the Eastern Seaboard. Wired, 23 Sep. 2019 Even a few dry days in Cienega Creek could be disastrous for wildlife like the topminnow. Douglas Main, National Geographic, 25 Apr. 2019 This network of waters, at Las Cienegas National Conservation Area, provides a home to scarce animals including the Gila topminnow, a sparkly-silver, inch-long fish, and Gila chub, which are larger and more rotund. Douglas Main, National Geographic, 25 Apr. 2019 In its arguments, the group cites the whiteline topminnow, a species that used to live in Big Spring before the development in downtown Huntsville. Dennis Pillion, AL.com, 11 Apr. 2018 Meanwhile, golden topminnows and killifish shelter in the shadows hoping to avoid bass and bream lurking in the underwater forest created by the tall stalks and flower stems. Ben Raines | Braines@al.com, AL.com, 30 Aug. 2017

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

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of topminnow was in 1884

Dictionary Entries Near topminnow

Cite this Entry

“Topminnow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/topminnow. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

topminnow

noun
top·​min·​now -ˌmin-ō How to pronounce topminnow (audio)
: any of several small surface-feeding fishes

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