tuna

1 of 2

noun (1)

tu·​na ˈtü-nə  ˈtyü- 

plural tuna or tunas

1

: any of various large vigorous scombroid fishes (as of the genera Euthynnus, Katsuwonus, and especially Thunnus) that are usually dark above and silvery below and include many that are valued as food or sport fishes see albacore, bigeye tuna, bluefin tuna, dogtooth tuna, little tunny, skipjack tuna, yellowfin tuna

2

: the flesh of a tuna used for food

grilled tuna

specifically, sometimes tuna fish : tuna flesh that has been cooked and canned

—often used before another noun

tuna salad

a tuna fish sandwich

tuna

2 of 2

noun (2)

tu·​na ˈtü-nə 

1

: any of various flat-jointed prickly pears (genus Opuntia)

especially : one (O. tuna) of tropical America

2

: the edible fruit of a tuna

Examples of tuna in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There’s a California roll with imitation crab or a spicy tuna roll that actually packs a punch of heat. —Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2024

There’s still a tuna melt and decadent milkshakes on the menu, but there are some welcome additions to appeal to twenty-first century travelers, too. —Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 June 2024

At Bar Martínez, this high-quality tuna gets flaked and folded into a thick tartar sauce, then stuffed into a sweet, roasted, ruby-red piquillo pepper. —Marti Buckley, Saveur, 30 May 2024

However, even the highest levels of heavy metals Dr. Martín has found in Ecuadorean farmed shrimp were half of what one sees in the least contaminated tuna. —Erik Vance, New York Times, 28 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

American Spanish, alteration of Spanish atún, modification of Arabic tūn, from Latin thunnus, from Greek thynnos

Noun (2)

Spanish, from Taino

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing tuna

• bigeye tuna
• bluefin tuna
• dogtooth tuna
• little tuna
• skipjack tuna
• tuna fish
• tuna mayonnaise
• yellowfin tuna

Kids Definition

tuna

noun

tu·​na

ˈt(y)ü-nə

plural tuna or tunas

1

: any of several mostly large sea fishes (as an albacore or bonito) related to the mackerels and caught for food and sport

2

: the flesh of a tuna especially when canned for use as food

called also tuna fish