piranha

[ pi-rahn-yuh, -ran- or, often, -rah-nuh, -ran-uh ]
/ pɪˈrɑn yə, -ˈræn- or, often, -ˈrɑ nə, -ˈræn ə /

noun, plural pi·ra·nhas, (especially collectively) pi·ra·nha.

any of several small South American freshwater fishes of the genus Serrasalmus that eat other fish and sometimes plants but occasionally also attack humans and other large animals that enter the water.
Also called caribe.

Origin of piranha

1865–70; < Portuguese < Tupi

Words nearby piranha

piracy, piraeus, piragua, pirandello, piranesi, piranha, pirapóra, pirarucu, pirate, pirate coast, pirate perch

Example sentences from the Web for piranha

British Dictionary definitions for piranha

piranha

piraa

/ (pɪˈrɑːnjə) /

noun

any of various small freshwater voracious fishes of the genus Serrasalmus and related genera, of tropical America, having strong jaws and sharp teeth: family Characidae (characins)

Word Origin for piranha

C19: via Portuguese from Tupi: fish with teeth, from pirá fish + sainha tooth