piranha Hear it!

piranha definition

pi·ra·nha (pi rä′nə, -ran′ə; pi rän′yə)

noun pl. piranhas -·nhas or piranha -·nha

any of various small South American freshwater bony fishes (family Serrasalmidae, order Cypriniformes) having strong jaws and very sharp teeth: they hunt in schools, attacking any animals, including human beings

Etymology: BrazPort < Tupí & Guaraní, toothed fish < pirá, fish + sainha, tooth

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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