Definition

A type of marine animal that has a central body and usually five arms, often found on the ocean floor.

Example

We saw a starfish while snorkeling in the coral reef.

Conversation

Did you see that starfish we found at the beach yesterday?

Yeah, it was so cool! I've never seen one up close before.

I love how they have those five arms; it's so unique.

Totally! It's amazing how different marine life can be.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Starfish → The word is formed from "star" (from Old English "steorra", meaning celestial body) and "fish" (from Old English "fisc", meaning aquatic creature). The term "starfish" refers to a marine animal that resembles a star in shape.

Memory Tip

Think of a celestial body ('star') and an aquatic creature ('fish') to remember that a starfish is a sea creature that looks like a star.

Visually Confused Words