Phrase guide

porcupine fish

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Any of several tropical fish species in the family Diodontidae that are covered with sharp spines and inflate themselves when threatened.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: sea porcupine

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

spines become erect when the body is inflated; worldwide in warm waters

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: porcupinefish, Diodon hystrix

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: spiny puffer

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: siilikala — a fish species that inflates itself when threatened to expose spines
  • German: Igelfisch — a fish species that inflates itself when threatened to expose spines
  • Māori: kōpūtōtara — a fish species that inflates itself when threatened to expose spines
  • Mokilese: joi — a fish species that inflates itself when threatened to expose spines
  • Polish: najeżka — a fish species that inflates itself when threatened to expose spines
  • Portuguese: baiacu — a fish species that inflates itself when threatened to expose spines