gills: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2technical (biology), informal (human anatomy), archaic (measurement)
Quick answer
What does “gills” mean?
The paired respiratory organs of fish and some other aquatic animals, typically consisting of a series of filaments that extract oxygen from water flowing over them.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The paired respiratory organs of fish and some other aquatic animals, typically consisting of a series of filaments that extract oxygen from water flowing over them.
1. The vertical, plate-like structures on the underside of a mushroom cap, where spores are produced. 2. (informal, often in negative contexts) The flesh around a person's jaw and neck. 3. A unit of liquid measure equal to a quarter of a pint.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in the core biological or mycological meanings. The unit of measure ('gill') was historically used in both regions but is now obsolete.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties.
Frequency
Identical. The word is of medium-low frequency in general discourse but high frequency in biological/zoological contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “gills” in a Sentence
Fish have gills.The gills extract oxygen.Water passes over the gills.He looked green around the gills.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gills” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The fish was gilling rapidly in the net.
- To prepare the trout, you must gill and gut it.
American English
- The fisherman gilled the catch before packing it in ice.
- Salmon gill effectively even in fast-moving water.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard; no common adverbial use.)
American English
- (Not standard; no common adverbial use.)
adjective
British English
- The gill morphology is fascinating.
- A gill net is designed to catch fish by the gills.
American English
- The gill cover, or operculum, protects the organ.
- They studied the gill structure under a microscope.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Common in biology, zoology, marine science, and mycology texts.
Everyday
Used when discussing fish, fishing, or mushrooms. Idiomatic uses ('green around the gills') are informal.
Technical
Central term in ichthyology and mycology. Precise descriptions of gill structure and function.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gills”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gills”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gills”
- Misspelling as 'gils'. Using 'gills' to refer to human lungs. Incorrect pluralisation: 'gill' for singular, 'gills' for plural is standard.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Humans have lungs. 'Gills' in human context ('green around the gills') is a purely metaphorical idiom referring to the jaw/neck area.
Yes, but it's rare. It can mean 'to catch (a fish) by the gills in a net' or 'to remove the gills from a fish when cleaning it.'
Gills are organs for extracting oxygen dissolved in water. Lungs are organs for extracting oxygen from air. They are adaptations to different environments.
It originates from the early 19th century, likely referring to the greenish hue of someone looking nauseated or unwell, humorously comparing their neck/jaw area to a fish's gills.
The paired respiratory organs of fish and some other aquatic animals, typically consisting of a series of filaments that extract oxygen from water flowing over them.
Gills is usually technical (biology), informal (human anatomy), archaic (measurement) in register.
Gills: in British English it is pronounced /ɡɪlz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɡɪlz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “green around the gills (look/feel sick)”
- “white around the gills (look terrified)”
- “to the gills (completely full)”
- “cut to the gills (deeply insulted)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
GILLS help FISH pay their BILLS by breathing underwater. Think: a FISH with GILLS on a HILL is ill (it needs water!).
Conceptual Metaphor
RESPIRATION IS FILTRATION (gills filter oxygen from water). DISCOMFORT/SICKNESS IS A CHANGE IN GILL COLOUR ('green around the gills').
Practice
Quiz
In which field would the term 'gills' NOT be professionally relevant?