stingray

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noun sting·ray \ -ˌrā \

Definition of stingray

:any of numerous rays (as of the family Dasyatidae) with one or more large sharp barbed dorsal spines near the base of the whiplike tail capable of inflicting severe wounds

See stingray defined for English-language learners

See stingray defined for kids

Recent Examples of stingray from the Web

The Lagoon here is a haven for parrotfish, damselfish, arrow crabs, octopus, turtles, manatees and stingrays.

— sarah sekula, USA TODAY, "Gentle giants: Diving with Florida's Goliath grouper," 23 Aug. 2017
Steve Irwin, who died in 2006 after a stingray stung him.

— lisa gutierrez, kansascity, "‘It kind of stung’: Guy shoots himself in the heart with nail gun, drives to hospital," 15 Aug. 2017
The coral reefs of the Daymaniyat Islands, a protected nature reserve in the Gulf of Oman, count guitar sharks, hawksbill turtles, stingrays, moray eels, and seahorses as residents.

— Fortune, "This Is the Next Big Destination for Adrenaline Junkies," 9 Aug. 2017
It was originally considered dangerous to visit the island, because the channel separating it from Hatteras Island was filled with swift waters, sharks and stingrays.

— mark price, charlotteobserver, "New NC island was expected to eventually disappear, but not like this," 27 July 2017
About 1,500 people are injured by stingrays in U.S. waters every year, and the attacks are very painful.

— bonnie berkowitz, chicagotribune.com, "10 creatures that can ruin your day at the beach," 30 June 2017
Avoid ’em: Shuffling carefully into the water one foot at a time creates gentle vibrations that alert stingrays to your presence.

— bonnie berkowitz, chicagotribune.com, "10 creatures that can ruin your day at the beach," 30 June 2017
Sand sharks and stingrays have also been reported in the waters, and hooks from decades of fishing at the popular spot could litter the seafloor, Hampton reports.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "There’s a New Island Off the Coast of North Carolina," 28 June 2017
Models on display run the gamut from high-rise handlebar Stingrays to banana-seat Krates.

— sacbee, sacbee.com, "If you know what a ‘Stingray’ is, the California Automobile Museum has an exhibit for you," 27 June 2017

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

Illustration of stingray

First Known Use of stingray

1624

STINGRAY Defined for English Language Learners

stingray

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noun

Definition of stingray for English Language Learners

: a type of fish that has a large, flat body and a long tail with spines on it that are used to sting other animals

STINGRAY Defined for Kids

stingray

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noun sting·ray \ ˈstiŋ-ˌrā \

Definition of stingray for Students

:a flat fish with a sharp stinging spine on its long thin tail

Medical Dictionary

stingray

noun sting·ray \ ˈstiŋ-ˌrā also -rē \

medical Definition of stingray

:any of numerous large flat cartilaginous fishes (order Rajiformes and especially family Dasyatidae) with one or more large sharp barbed dorsal spines near the base of the whiplike tail capable of inflicting severe wounds