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
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Sea foam kisses a starfish on golden sand in a framed photograph. Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 5 Jan. 2025 Most of the trees have ornaments made of shells, driftwood, even starfish. Phaedra Trethan, USA TODAY, 25 Dec. 2024 Highlights included the Positano bangles embellished with colored shells and starfish motifs and the Diana bracelets and hoops, whose charming torchon construction was further enhanced in the seasonal pink mother-of-pearl and offered as long necklace for the first time, too. Sandra Salibian, WWD, 3 Oct. 2024 Its multifaceted holiday themes go well beyond wreaths, garlands and ornaments to include seahorses, starfish and coral, the underwater story stemming from prints in Maria Grazia Chiuri’s cruise 2025 collection, now arriving in stores. Miles Socha, WWD, 19 Nov. 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 22 Jan. 2025.

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)

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