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stickleback Definition

stickle·back (stikəl 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

  1. stickle
  2. sticking point
  3. sticking plaster
  4. sticking
  5. stickiness
  6. stickily
  7. stickiest
  8. stickier
  9. stickhandling
  10. stickhandler
  1. stickled
  2. stickler
  3. stickling
  4. stickman
  5. stickmen
  6. stickpin
  7. stickseed
  8. sticktight
  9. stickum
  10. stickup