noun
discus
A colorful freshwater fish with a flattened, disk-shaped body.
A brightly colored discus swam through the aquarium.
Etymology
The Greek word names a disk. The fish receives that shape name from its broad, flattened body, which presents a nearly circular outline from the side.
More examples
- The discus had a flat, rounded body.
- Several discus gathered near the aquatic plants.
- The keeper fed the discus before dimming the lights.
Forms
discus · discuses
Similar words
- cichlid
- Discus is a kind of cichlid; cichlid is the broader fish group.
- angelfish
- Freshwater angelfish are related aquarium fish but have a different body and fin shape.