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Definition of tinfoil barb

tinfoil barb

Plural:tinfoil barbs
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tinfoil barb Lexical Profile

• noun

1

A large, schooling freshwater fish (Barbonymus schwanenfeldii) native to Southeast Asia, characterized by highly reflective, silvery scales resembling tinfoil and distinctively red-tinted fins, commonly kept in large home aquariums.

Example

"Due to their active nature and potential to reach over a foot in length, a school of tinfoil barbs requires a massive aquarium to thrive."

Word Origin & Etymology

Named for the highly reflective, silvery appearance of its scales which resemble aluminum or tin foil, combined with 'barb', a common name for various freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Tinfoil barb. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/tinfoil barb
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