piranha
UK /pɪˈɹɑːn(j)ə/ · US /pɪˈɹɑn(j)ə/ noun
Forms piranhas piraña piraya
- noun (ichthyology) Any of certain freshwater fish of the subfamily Serrasalminae, native to South America; they are characterized by razor-sharp teeth and a reputation of being ferocious predators (despite most species being omnivorous).
- noun (figurative, derogatory) Someone, especially a critic, who appears to be part of a swarm and attacks someone when they are vulnerable, as if in a feeding frenzy.
Synonyms
Etymology
First attested in 1869. The term entered English either via Portuguese piranha or Spanish piraña, from Old Tupi pirãîa.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 — from the Wiktionary entry “piranha”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details