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Definition of zebrafish

zebrafish

/ˈziːbrəˌfɪʃ/
ze · bra · fish
Plural:zebrafish
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zebrafish Lexical Profile

zebrafish Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A widely utilized vertebrate model organism in genetic, developmental, and biomedical research, highly valued for its rapid embryonic development and optically transparent embryos.

Example

"Researchers observed the transparent embryos of the zebrafish under a microscope to study the early stages of vertebrate heart development."

2

A small, tropical freshwater fish belonging to the minnow family, native to the rivers of South Asia and characterized by distinctive horizontal blue stripes extending along its body.

Example

"The community aquarium was beautifully maintained, housing a lively mix of neon tetras and zebrafish."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for zebrafish

• Nearby Words

zebra snake
zebra spitting cobra
zebra-tailed lizard
zebrafish
zebrina
zebu
zed

Word Origin & Etymology

Named in the early 20th century for the distinctive dark-blue, horizontal stripes running along its body, which evoke the contrasting stripes of a zebra.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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