fish
Pronunciation: (fish), [key]
— n., pl. v. fish, fish•es,
—n.
- any of various cold-blooded, aquatic vertebrates, having gills, commonly fins, and typically an elongated body covered with scales.
- (loosely) any of various other aquatic animals.
- the flesh of fishes used as food.
- the constellation or sign of Pisces.
- a person: an odd fish; a poor fish.
- a long strip of wood, iron, etc., used to strengthen a mast, joint, etc.
- an incompetent player whose incompetence can be exploited.
- a dollar: He sold the car for 500 fish.
- a new prison inmate.
- to drink alcoholic beverages to excess: Nobody invites him out because he drinks like a fish.
- a person out of his or her proper or accustomed environment: He felt like a fish out of water in an academic atmosphere.
- having no specific character or conviction; neither one nor the other.
- other matters requiring attention: When it was time to act, they had other fish to fry.
—v.t.
- to catch or attempt to catch (any species of fish or the like).
- to try to catch fish in (a stream, lake, etc.): Let's fish the creek.
- to draw, as by fishing (often fol. by up or out): He fished a coin out of his pocket for the boy.
- to search through, as by fishing.
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- to secure (an anchor) by raising the flukes.
- to reinforce (a mast or other spar) by fastening a spar, batten, metal bar, or the like, lengthwise over a weak place.
—v.i.
- to catch or attempt to catch fish, as by angling or drawing a net.
- to search carefully: He fished through all his pockets but his wallet was gone.
- to seek to obtain something indirectly or by artifice: to fish for compliments; to fish for information.
- to search for or attempt to catch onto something under water, in mud, etc., by the use of a dredge, rake, hook, or the like.
- to attempt to recover detached tools or other loose objects from an oil or gas well.
- to take advantage of troubled or uncertain conditions for personal profit.
- to choose a definite course of action, esp. to decide whether to participate in or retreat from an activity.
- to deplete (a lake, stream, etc.) of fish by fishing.
Fish
Pronunciation: (fish), [key]
— n.
- 1808–93, U.S. statesman: secretary of state 1869–77.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.