nurse shark

noun

Definition of nurse shark

: any of various usually bottom-dwelling sharks (family Ginglymostomatidae) with barbels near the nostrils especially : a large yellowish to grayish brown shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) of warm usually shallow coastal waters that is typically nonaggressive and rests often in groups on the sea floor during the day

Examples of nurse shark in a Sentence

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Extending from tropical forests and marshes to coral reefs along the coast, the reserve counts sea turtles, crocodiles, jaguars, spider monkeys, manatees, nurse sharks, and flamingos as resident fauna. — George W. Stone, National Geographic, "Dinosaurs to gladiators: 10 World Heritage trips for families," 16 Aug. 2019 Holland says the nurse shark is known for two things: laziness and friendliness. — Rod Stafford Hagwood, sun-sentinel.com, "Shark Week can be an up-close thing at shark feeding in Key West," 26 July 2019 The trip is spent searching out tiger, hammerhead, reef and nurse sharks, so the fish can be tagged and released. — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, "Up-Close and Personal Shark Encounters that Shark Week Fans Can Safely Enjoy All Year," 24 July 2019 Swim with sharks including whitetip reef sharks, blacktip reef sharks and nurse sharks at SeaWorld’s Discovery Cove (6000 Discovery Cove Way in Orlando). — Patrick Connolly, orlandosentinel.com, "Shark Awareness Day: How to discover sharks in Central Florida," 14 July 2019 Snorkel and dive among groupers, rays, and nurse sharks at Shark Ray Alley, part of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve on the southern tip of Ambergris Caye. — National Geographic, "Belize High School Expedition," 12 June 2019 Nobody really needs to go falconing in Mongolia or ride on the back of a nurse shark in Alaska for their life to be complete. — Joe Queenan, WSJ, "It’s Time to Kick the Bucket List," 20 July 2018 University of Miami student Katarina Zarutskie, 19, suffered a wrist injury after a nurse shark bit her left arm and pulled her down during a trip to the Bahamas with her boyfriend. — Johnny Diaz, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Shark bites UM student in the Bahamas: 'I could feel his teeth sinking into my arm'," 11 July 2018 Katarina Zarutskie makes a quick getaway after getting bitten by a 5-foot nurse shark while on vacation in the Bahamas. — Matthew Martinez, miamiherald, "Model swam with sharks. One bite and six stitches later, she says she’d do it again," 11 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'nurse shark.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

25 Aug 2019

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The first known use of nurse shark was in 1851

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