ELASMOBRANCH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does elasmobranch mean? 

• ELASMOBRANCH (noun)
  The noun ELASMOBRANCH has 1 sense:

1. any of numerous fishes of the class Chondrichthyes characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton and placoid scales: sharks; rays; skates

  Familiarity information: ELASMOBRANCH used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ELASMOBRANCH (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any of numerous fishes of the class Chondrichthyes characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton and placoid scales: sharks; rays; skates

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

elasmobranch; selachian

Hypernyms ("elasmobranch" is a kind of...):

cartilaginous fish; chondrichthian (fishes in which the skeleton may be calcified but not ossified)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "elasmobranch"):

shark (any of numerous elongate mostly marine carnivorous fishes with heterocercal caudal fins and tough skin covered with small toothlike scales)

ray (cartilaginous fishes having horizontally flattened bodies and enlarged winglike pectoral fins with gills on the underside; most swim by moving the pectoral fins)

Holonyms ("elasmobranch" is a member of...):

Elasmobranchii; Selachii; subclass Elasmobranchii; subclass Selachii (sharks; rays; dogfishes; skates)