Barbel definition

bärbəl
One of the slender, whiskerlike tactile organs extending from the head of certain fishes, such as catfishes.
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A threadlike growth from the lips or jaws of certain fishes: it is an organ of touch.
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Any of a genus (Barbus) of large, European, freshwater cyprinoid fishes with such growths.
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One of the slender, whiskerlike tactile organs extending from the head of certain fishes, such as catfishes.
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A slender, whiskerlike feeler extending from the head of certain fish, such as the catfish. It is used for touch and taste.
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A freshwater fish of the genus Barbus.
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(biology) Whisker-like sensory organs, located around the mouth of certain fish, including catfish, carp, goatfish, sturgeon, and some types of shark.
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A barb or pap under the tongues of horses and cattle.
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Any of several freshwater cyprinid fishes of the genus Barbus of Eurasia and Africa, especially B. barbus, having four barbels on the upper jaw.
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Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
barbel
Plural:
barbels

Origin of barbel

  • Obsolete French from Old French from Medieval Latin barbula diminutive of Late Latin barbus beard from Latin barba bhardh-ā- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English from Old French from Medieval Latin barbellus diminutive of barbus from Latin barba beard barbel1

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Old French barbel.

    From Wiktionary

Barbel Sentence Examples

  • The few fish include the barbel.

  • The mouth is rather narrow and provided at each corner with a very small barbel.

  • Though called the salmon of India, the mahseer is really a species of barbel.

  • River fish are plentiful enough, but confined to one species, the barbel.

  • I now know why people find big Barbel so addictive.

More sentences

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Words near barbel in the Dictionary