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Definition of hoplo
hoplo
/ˈhɑːp.loʊ/
hop · lo
Plural:hoplos
hoplo Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
10
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A freshwater armored catfish native to the tropical waters of South America (such as Megalechis thoracata), characterized by overlapping bony plates and commonly kept in the aquarium hobby.
Example
"The spotted hoplo is a highly active bottom-dweller that constantly scavenges for food in the aquarium substrate."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for hoplo• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
A clipping of the genus name Hoplosternum, derived from Ancient Greek 'hoplon' (armor or shield) and 'sternon' (chest), referring to the bony, armor-like plates along the fish's body.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Hoplo. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/hoplo