moray eel

noun

mo·​ray eel mə-ˈrā-  ˈmȯr-(ˌ)ā- 

: any of numerous often brightly colored eels (family Muraenidae) that have sharp teeth capable of inflicting a severe bite, that occur in warm seas, and that include a chiefly Mediterranean eel (Muraena helena) sometimes used for food

called also moray

Examples of moray eel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Built on the side of Le Rocher, Monaco’s perched old town, the museum features more than 6,000 species, from Mediterranean octopuses and moray eels to tropical sharks and sea horses. —Lane Nieset, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024

Laura Rink, associate director of operations for Heal the Bay Aquarium, greets me with a friendly smile and ushers me inside, past undersea murals and aquaria housing moon jellies, sharks, and moray eels. —Jennifer Adler, Vox, 7 July 2024

Living here are shoals of technicolor fish, some the size of a fingernail—like the baby clownfish hiding in gently swaying anemone—others larger than a human, like the giant moray eel coiled around net fire coral. —Jessica Vincent, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2023

While many coral reef residents, such as groupers and moray eels, work together when hunting for their mutual benefit, the trumpetfish’s sneaky shadowing of larger fish seems to be solely for its own benefit. —Annie Roth, New York Times, 8 Aug. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese moréia, from Latin muraena, from Greek myraina

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

moray eel

noun

mo·​ray eel mə-ˈrā-  ˈmȯr-ā- 

: any of numerous often brightly colored eels that have sharp teeth capable of biting and live in warm seas

called also moray