remora: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal/Literary/Technical (Ichthyology)
Quick answer
What does “remora” mean?
A fish with a sucking disc on its head used for attaching to larger marine animals like sharks, whales, or ships.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A fish with a sucking disc on its head used for attaching to larger marine animals like sharks, whales, or ships.
Anything that impedes or hinders progress; an obstacle or impediment. From the historical (and incorrect) belief that these fish could slow down ships.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both primarily use the zoological term.
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties. Slightly higher potential for encountering the metaphorical sense in older British literary texts.
Grammar
How to Use “remora” in a Sentence
The remora attaches to [ANIMAL/SURFACE].[ANIMAL] had a remora attached to its flank.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “remora” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The small fish attempted to remora itself to the passing vessel.
American English
- It tried to remora onto the shark's underbelly.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
adjective
British English
- The remora-like attachment of the barnacle was studied.
American English
- He had a remora-like dependence on his mentor.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in marine biology/zoology contexts to describe the fish and its commensal relationship.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used specifically in ichthyology. The metaphorical 'hindrance' sense is obsolete in modern technical writing.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “remora”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “remora”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “remora”
- Using the metaphorical sense in modern, non-literary contexts.
- Confusing it with 'ramora' (misspelling).
- Pronouncing as /rɪˈmɔːrə/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is a commensal organism. It benefits (transport, food scraps) without harming its host.
Only in very archaic or deliberately literary contexts to mean a hanger-on or a hindrance. This usage is extremely rare today.
A remora attaches with a flat, non-damaging sucking disc on its head. A lamprey attaches with a circular, toothed mouth and is a parasitic blood-sucker.
Ancient sailors observed these fish attached to ships and superstitiously believed they caused the ships to slow down, hence the Latin name 'remora' ('delay').
A fish with a sucking disc on its head used for attaching to larger marine animals like sharks, whales, or ships.
Remora is usually formal/literary/technical (ichthyology) in register.
Remora: in British English it is pronounced /ˈrɛmərə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈrɛmərə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Attached like a remora”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
REMORA = RE-MOOR-A. Think of it re-mooring (re-attaching) itself to a shark.
Conceptual Metaphor
DEPENDENCY/HINDRANCE IS A PARASITIC FISH ('The corrupt official was a remora on the body politic.').
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is the primary meaning of 'remora' in modern English?