nurse shark
noun
: 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
Recent Examples on the Web
The reef and the lagoon are known for their clear ocean waters, where visitors can experience close encounters with seven species of sharks, including bull sharks, tawny nurse sharks, grey reef sharks, and tiger sharks.
—
Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 4 June 2025
Its white-sand beaches are bordered by crystal-clear cerulean waters teeming with marine life, including nurse sharks, sand dollars, and upside-down jellyfish.
—Kaila Yu, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
The New England Aquarium has a team of nine scientists in the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life who study sharks — from porbeagle and nurse sharks to thresher, blue, mako, sandbar, and sand tiger sharks.
More than 15 shark species reside in New England waters depending on the time of year.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 13 May 2025
The reef is ideal for spotting colorful fish, turtles, moray eels, nurse sharks, and even the occasional eagle ray gliding gracefully through the deep.
—Judy Koutsky, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
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Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 4 June 2025
Its white-sand beaches are bordered by crystal-clear cerulean waters teeming with marine life, including nurse sharks, sand dollars, and upside-down jellyfish.
—Kaila Yu, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
The New England Aquarium has a team of nine scientists in the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life who study sharks — from porbeagle and nurse sharks to thresher, blue, mako, sandbar, and sand tiger sharks.
More than 15 shark species reside in New England waters depending on the time of year.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 13 May 2025
The reef is ideal for spotting colorful fish, turtles, moray eels, nurse sharks, and even the occasional eagle ray gliding gracefully through the deep.
—Judy Koutsky, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nurse shark
Cite this Entry
“Nurse shark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nurse%20shark. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
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