nurse shark

noun

|Updated on: 28 Jul 2018

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

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Recent Examples of nurse shark from the Web

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
The aquarium is home to grey reef shark, nurse sharks, blacktip reef shark and a group of baby coral catsharks, a recent addition.

— dewayne bevil, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Sea Life Orlando marks Shark Month with 'sharkfie' opportunities," 9 July 2018
Zarutskie, a 19-year-old nursing student and Instagram model from Laguna Beach, California, had been swimming with nurse sharks when one bit her arm and started to drag her under the water last month.

— NBC News, "Shark attacks California Instagram model in Bahamas," 9 July 2018
Her friends had gathered at the back of the boat in late May, tossing bits of fish to a group of tawny nurse sharks in the water, Brunning told the West Australian newspaper.

— avi selk, Washington Post, "She wanted to hand-feed a shark but then aghh no not like that why???," 2 July 2018
Melissa Brunning was on vacation at Dugong Bay last month in northwest Australia and was taking part in a feeding of tawney nurse sharks.

— natalie dreier, ajc, "Shark bites woman during Australian vacation," 2 July 2018
Melissa Brunning was in northwestern Australia on a a friend's yacht when a group of nurse sharks began hanging out around the boat, according to Perth Now.

— scott berson, miamiherald, "She was feeding a shark by hand. Then it bit her finger and pulled.," 2 July 2018
There are sand tiger sharks with fearsome teeth, sandbar sharks with tall dorsal fins and nurse sharks huddled together on the floor of the tank.

— Washington Post, "Sandy-ravaged aquarium opens splashy new shark exhibit," 26 June 2018
In 1995, Flajnik and colleagues fished an unconventional antibody out of blood from a nurse shark.

— mitch leslie, Science | AAAS, "Mini-antibodies discovered in sharks and camels could lead to drugs for cancer and other diseases," 10 May 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.