stickleback 
stickleback
Definition
stickle·back (stik′əl bak′)
noun
any of a family (Gasterosteidae, order Gasterosteiformes) of small, bony-plated, marine and freshwater bony fishes with two to eleven sharp spines in front of the dorsal fin: the male builds a nest for the female's eggs
Etymology: ME stykylbak < OE sticel, a prick, sting < base of sticca (see stick) + ME bak, back
stickleback
Usage Examples
Converse of object
- use: The Sticklebacks used to make their nest among it in the spring.
- catch: Children use this section of the river to play - building bridges across the river and catching sticklebacks.
Adjective modifier
- three-spined: Three-spined sticklebacks are small bony fishes that live in a wide variety of aquatic habitats.
- 3-spined: Its prey could have been 3-spined Sticklebacks, which are commonly seen in the shallows from the vantage point of the bridge.
- male: A number of male sticklebacks were investigated during the breeding season.
- female: Female stickleback have silver bellies, this is the stimulus that attracts the males.
- spined: Gobies, blennies, butterfish and 3 spined sticklebacks are common in the rockpools.
Preposition: in
- tank: A stickleback in a tank, for instance - what do you see?
Browse dictionary entries near stickleback
- ‹ stickle
- ‹ sticking point
- ‹ sticking plaster
- ‹ sticking
- ‹ stickiness
- ‹ stickily
- ‹ stickiest
- ‹ stickier
- ‹ stickhandling
- ‹ stickhandler
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