grunion

noun

grun·​ion ˈgrən-yən How to pronounce grunion (audio)
: a silverside (Leuresthes tenuis) of the California coast notable for the regularity with which it comes inshore to spawn at nearly full moon

Examples of grunion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Care will be taken to avoid grunion runs and least tern nesting areas. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024 Check out the schedule when grunion are expected to dance. Mary Forgione, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2022 Then there are grunions, sardine-sized fish that leave the water during mating season and lay their eggs in the sand across beaches in California. Sofia Quaglia, Discover Magazine, 9 May 2023 Monitor local beaches and collect information during grunion runs for this vulnerable species of fish. Lshell, Discover Magazine, 28 July 2018 Whale-watching, grunion-running and tidepool-exploring with the experts at the Birch Aquarium at Scripps. San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2022 Yet another 2021 study, led by Longcore, showed similarly low thresholds of light on stretches of California beach can prevent plovers from roosting and fish called grunion from throwing themselves ashore to spawn. Joshua Sokol, Scientific American, 16 Sep. 2022 Here are photos of a recent grunion run at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro. Mary Forgione, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2022 The next grunion run is expected to happen in San Pedro on June 16. Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'grunion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

probably from Spanish gruñón grunter

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of grunion was in 1917

Dictionary Entries Near grunion

Cite this Entry

“Grunion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grunion. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on grunion

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!