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Definition of humphead wrasse
humphead wrasse
Plural:humphead wrasses
humphead wrasse Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
8
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A massive, endangered species of marine fish native to coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific region, characterized by its thick lips and the prominent, bulbous bump on the forehead of adult males.
Example
"The humphead wrasse plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of coral reefs by preying on toxic sea hares and destructive crown-of-thorns starfish."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The name 'humphead' describes the prominent bulbous mass on the forehead of mature males, while 'wrasse' derives from the Cornish word 'gwragh' (meaning 'old woman' or 'hag'), traditionally applied to various coastal fishes.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Humphead wrasse. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/humphead wrasse