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electric eel
noun
: a large eel-shaped fish (Electrophorus electricus) of the Orinoco and Amazon basins that is capable of giving a severe shock with its electric organs
Examples of electric eel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In this brutally violent revenge thriller, deaths are inflicted by fire, industrial shredder, pressure chamber, and electric eel.
—Chris Nashawaty, EW.com, 29 May 2024
In theory, this means that electric eels could be contributing to the genetic modification of other species in the wild.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Dec. 2023
For the past 250 years, scientists believed that all electric eels belonged to the same species, but in 2019, research conducted by C. David de Santana, a Smithsonian researcher, proved that there are at least three species, the largest and most electrified being the Volta's electric eel.
—Annie Roth, Star Tribune, 21 Jan. 2021
Ooh girl, shock me like an electric eel.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 9 June 2016
George Baker's electric eel exhibition of 1776 and 1777 is then instructive in exploring the production and circulation of knowledge in Georgian Britain.
—Ncbi Rofl, Discover Magazine, 16 Sep. 2011
Can an electric eel act like a defibrillator?
—Mike Rose, cleveland, 21 Sep. 2021
Both continents are home to fish that can talk to each other using electric fields: the elephantfishes of Africa, and the knifefishes of South America (including the famous electric eel).
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 23 Nov. 2010
In the murky freshwater rivers and streams that snake across the Amazon lurks an eight-foot fascination: the electric eel.
—Roni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 9 Sep. 2019
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'electric eel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1774, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near electric eel
Cite this Entry
“Electric eel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/electric%20eel. Accessed 13 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
electric eel
noun
: a large South American eel-shaped fish able to give a severe electric shock
Medical Definition
electric eel
noun
: a large eel-shaped bony fish (Electrophorus electricus of the family Electrophoridae) of the Orinoco and Amazon basins that is capable of giving a severe shock with electricity generated by a special tract of tissue
More from Merriam-Webster on electric eel
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about electric eel
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