noun
eel
EEL/iːl/
A long, snakelike fish with smooth, slippery skin.
An eel slips between the rocks at the river's edge.
Etymology
Old English æl already named the fish, so the modern meaning continues an inherited animal name. Its earlier origin is unknown, with no certain relatives outside the Germanic languages.
In context
What if we do something long and skinny? Kind of like like an electric eel.
More examples
- The eel's slippery skin makes it difficult to hold.
- Young eels swim upstream from the ocean.
- The chef serves grilled eel over rice.
Forms
eel · eels