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Definition of tetra

tetra

/ˈtɛt.ɹə/
tet · ra
Plural:tetras
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tetra Lexical Profile

tetra Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A small, brightly colored freshwater fish primarily of the family Characidae, native to South America, Central America, and Africa, highly popular in the aquarium trade.

Example

"The neon tetra is a popular choice for beginner aquarists due to its vibrant colors, hardiness, and peaceful nature."

Photo by Holger Krisp / CC BY 3.0
Synonyms
View all synonyms for tetra

• Rhymes for tetra

• Nearby Words

tethering
teton
teton range
tetra
tetratheca
tetris
tettix

Word Origin & Etymology

Originates from a clipping of Tetragonopterus, a former genus name for many of these fishes, derived from the Greek 'tetra-' (four), 'gōnia' (angle), and 'pteron' (wing or fin).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Tetra. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/tetra
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