lamprey

noun

lam·​prey ˈlam-prē 

-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

Fishermen are still catching trout out there with live lampreys attached to them, but some heavy stocking has been done, and the fishing continues to be fair. —Ben East, Outdoor Life, 28 Nov. 2024

Salmon, steelhead, and Pacific lamprey spend most of their lives in the ocean, which fattens them for their long migration (totaling hundreds of miles) up the Klamath River to reproduce. —Kelly Bastone, Outside Online, 24 Nov. 2024

In 1835, lampreys were first recorded in Lake Ontario, having reached their destination via the Welland Canal, according to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. —Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 9 Aug. 2023

Eradication helped reduce the lamprey by 90 percent. —Discover Magazine, 14 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing lamprey

• sea lamprey

Kids Definition

lamprey

noun

lam·​prey ˈlam-prē 

-ˌprā

plural lampreys

: any of a family of jawless fishes that resemble eels and have a large sucking mouth with horny teeth