starfish

noun

star·​fish ˈstär-ˌfish How to pronounce starfish (audio)
: any of a class (Asteroidea) of echinoderms that have a body of usually five arms radially arranged about a central disk and feed largely on mollusks (such as oysters)

called also sea star

Examples of starfish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The designs of these robots were based on the biological specifications of the locomotion and water-vascular systems of regenerating starfish. Erico Guizzo, IEEE Spectrum, 21 Oct. 2016 Google’s chief scientist, Jeff Dean, wore a starfish costume to the meeting, while Ashkenazi sported a jersey of former Indiana Pacers star Reggie Miller. Jennifer Elias, CNBC, 1 Nov. 2024 To set it up, insert the six sea animal toys (an octopus, crab, two whales, and two starfishes); fill the mat’s center with water; and inflate the rim. Pamela Brill, Parents, 24 Oct. 2024 After starfish autotomize a limb, that limb eventually regenerates. Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 14 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for starfish 

Word History

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of starfish was in 1538

Dictionary Entries Near starfish

Cite this Entry

“Starfish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/starfish. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

starfish

noun
star·​fish ˈstär-ˌfish How to pronounce starfish (audio)
: any of a class of echinoderms that have five arms arranged evenly around a central disk and feed largely on mollusks (as oysters)

More from Merriam-Webster on starfish

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!