Minnow - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
A minnow is a small freshwater fish, often used as bait. The term can also describe something or someone insignificant in comparison to others, like a small company in a large industry.
Definition:
A small freshwater fish, often used as bait or to describe something insignificant.
Synonyms:
small fry, guppy, tadpole
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
giant, whale
Common Collocations:
minnow bucket, minnow trap, minnow net
Derivatives:
minnows, minnowing
Usage Tips:
Use "minnow" literally for small fish or metaphorically for unimportant things or people.
Common Phrases:
small fry in a big pond, like a minnow in the ocean
Etymology:
From Middle English *menow*, possibly of Celtic origin meaning "small fish."
Examples:
- 1. The children caught a minnow in the creek.
- 2. He felt like a minnow among sharks at the conference.
- 3. She used a minnow as bait to catch trout.
- 4. The pond was teeming with tiny minnows near the shore.