shark
nounverbnounverbverbcommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ʃɑːk//
- United States//ʃɑɹk//
Any predatory fish of the superorder Selachimorpha, with a cartilaginous skeleton and 5 to 7 gill slits on each side of its head.
noun
- 1
Any predatory fish of the superorder Selachimorpha, with a cartilaginous skeleton and 5 to 7 gill slits on each side of its head.
The straunge fishe is in length xvij. foote and iij. foote broad, and in compas about the bodie vj. foote; and is round snowted, short headdid, hauing iij. rankes of teeth on either iawe, …. Also it hath v. gills of eache side of the head, shoing white. Ther is no proper name for it that I know, but that sertayne men of Captayne Haukinses doth call it a sharke.
He said he had spoken to a woman who was kayaking off Catalina Island, California, in 2008 when a shark slammed her kayak from underneath and sent her flying into the air. She then landed on the back of the shark, Collier said. "At that point the shark started to swim out to sea, so she jumped off its back," Collier said.
- 2
Meat of this animal, consumed as food.
Shark has traditionally, although in some secrecy, been a staple food in European, American and Australian food.
In the past, people did not like to eat shark because they thought sharks ate the bodies of dead sailors.
Do not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tilefish due to their high levels of mercury.
- 3
Any fish of the class Chondrichthyes, especially an extinct shark-like holocephalian.
Cladoselache, a well-preserved Devonian shark fossil from Ohio. Here the cartilages and some muscle tissues are preserved intact
- 4
A freshwater fish that resembles a true shark (Selachimorpha) in appearance or movement; a freshwater shark. Any fish in the genus Epalzeorhynchos.
- 5
A freshwater fish that resembles a true shark (Selachimorpha) in appearance or movement; a freshwater shark. Any fish in the genus Balantiocheilos.
- 6
A freshwater fish that resembles a true shark (Selachimorpha) in appearance or movement; a freshwater shark. An iridescent shark (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus).
- 7
A freshwater fish that resembles a true shark (Selachimorpha) in appearance or movement; a freshwater shark. A roseline shark (Dawkinsia denisonii).
- 8
A freshwater fish that resembles a true shark (Selachimorpha) in appearance or movement; a freshwater shark. A paroon shark (Pangasius sanitwongsei).
- 9
A noctuid moth of species Cucullia umbratica.
- 10
A university student who is not a fresher that has engaged in sexual activity with a fresher; usually habitually and with multiple people.
Etymology
From Middle English shark (used by Thomas Beckington in 1442 to refer to a kind of fish), of uncertain origin. Most likely from a semantic extension of the German-derived shark (“scoundrel”), see below. The fish was originally called a dogfish or haye in English and Middle English. Its name in Old English is unknown, although some uses of the word hranfisċ that do not appear to carry the sense of "whale" may have been referencing it. alternative theories Some older dictionaries derived the word from Latin c(h)archarias, c(h)acharus (from Ancient Greek), but admit that "the requisite [Old French] forms intermediate between E. shark and L. carcharus are not found, and it is not certain that the name [shark] was orig. applied to the fish; it may have been first used of a greedy man". Other older authorities speculated that the word might derive from Yucatec Maya xok (“fish”) (/ʃok/), as John Hawkins brought a specimen from the area where Mayan was spoken to England in the 1560s. However, the 1442 use rules out a New World origin for the word.
verb
- 1
rareTo fish for sharks.
- 2
Of a university student who is not a fresher (first-year undergraduate), and especially towards the start of the academic year: To engage in sexual activity with a fresher.
- 3
Of a university student who is not a fresher (first-year undergraduate), and especially towards the start of the academic year: To cruise for casual sex with a fresher at a bar or club.
noun
- 1
Someone who exploits others, for example by trickery, lies, usury, extortion.
“[…] Churchill, my dear fellow, we have such greedy sharks, and wolves in lamb's clothing. Oh, dear, there's so much to tell you, so many warnings to give you, but all that must be postponed for the moment.”
“Look after her, Mr. Hastings. My poor Emily. They’re a lot of sharks—all of them. Oh, I know what I’m talking about. There isn’t one of them that’s not hard up and trying to get money out of her. I’ve protected her as much as I could. Now I’m out of the way, they’ll impose upon her.”
- 2
informalA sleazy and amoral lawyer.
- 3
informalAn ambulance chaser.
- 4
informalA relentless and resolute person or group, especially in business.
To the extent that shares of this company are traded in the stock exchange, and share prices are based on fundamentals and not on the speculative whims and fancies of irrational money sharks, its value on the stock market should equal V(0) in real terms, of P(0)V(0) in nominal terms.
In the event they lacked a proper midfield bolt, with Toni Kroos and Sami Khedira huffing around in pursuit of the whizzing green machine. The centre-backs looked flustered, left to deal with three on two as Mexico broke. Löw’s 4-2-3-1 seemed antiquated and creaky, with the old World Cup shark Thomas Müller flat-footed in a wide position.
- 5
A person that excels in a particular field.
- 6
informalA person that excels in a particular field. A very good poker or pool player. Compare fish (a bad poker player).
- 7
A person who feigns ineptitude to win money from others.
Etymology
From German Schurke (“scoundrel”); compare Dutch schurk.
verb
- 1
obsoleteTo steal or obtain through fraud.
Shakespeare and others, Sir Thomas More (c. 1593) act 2, sc. 4: "Other ruffians...Would shark on you."
- 2
obsoleteTo play the petty thief; to practice fraud or trickery; to swindle.
Neither sharks for a cup or a reckoning.
- 3
obsoleteTo live by shifts and stratagems.
Ah Captaine, lay not all the fault upon Officers you know you can ſhark though you be out of action, witneſſe Montague.
But a good man ſhall be ſatisfied from himſelf] For he hath a ſpring vvithin his ovvn breaſt, he needs not ſharke abroad: he hath an autarkie, a ſelf-ſufficiency, 1 Tim[othy] 6.6.
verb
- 1
obsoleteTo pick or gather indiscriminately or covertly.
Fortenbraſſe […] Hath […] Sharkt vp a ſight of lawleſſe Reſolutes […]
Etymology
Probably from the "steal" senses above, but perhaps related to shear. Compare shirk.
Forms
- plural
- sharks
- past tense
- sharked
- past participle
- sharked
- present participle
- sharking
- third person singular
- sharks
shark · Any predatory fish of the superorder Selachimorpha, with a cartilaginous skeleton and 5 to 7 gill slits on each side of its head.
Sharma · A surname from Hindi.sharon · Wrapping leftover foods to take home from any kind of social…Sharon · A plain in Israel.