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Definition of silver carp
silver carp
Plural:silver carp
silver carp Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
8
Tier
2
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A large, filter-feeding freshwater fish native to eastern Asia, widely cultivated globally in aquaculture but considered a highly disruptive invasive species in North American river systems, where they are known to leap from the water when startled.
Example
"Ecologists are building electric barriers to prevent the silver carp from entering the Great Lakes and devastating local food webs."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Named for its distinctive bright, silvery scales and its classification within the carp family (Cyprinidae). Native to major river drainages in eastern Asia.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Silver carp. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/silver carp