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Definition of frontosa
frontosa
/frɑːnˈtoʊsə/
fron · to · sa
Plural:frontosas
frontosa Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A large, distinctively striped freshwater cichlid fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa, highly prized in the aquarium trade for its alternating blue and white vertical bands and the prominent hump on its forehead.
Example
"The experienced aquarist set up a massive alkaline tank to comfortably house a breeding colony of frontosas."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for frontosa• Rhymes for frontosa
Word Origin & Etymology
From the specific epithet of its scientific name, Cyphotilapia frontosa, which derives from the Latin 'frontosus' meaning 'having a broad forehead', referring to the prominent nuchal hump that develops on the heads of adult specimens.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Frontosa. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/frontosa