goldfish

/ˌgoʊl(d)ˈfɪʃ/

/ˈgʌʊldfɪʃ/

Other forms: goldfishes

A goldfish is a small, freshwater member of the carp family. If you have a pet that swims around in a glass bowl, chances are good it's a goldfish.

Although goldfish are named for their brilliant golden color, they've been carefully bred for thousands of years to look that way. Their original carp ancestors were silvery-gray, with the occasional gold mutation. During China's Tang dynasty, they were often kept in ponds; after being put into small containers indoors, goldfish evolved to their smaller size. They can grow much larger when they're released in the wild, and goldfish are considered an invasive species in many parts of the world today.

Definitions of goldfish

1. noun

   small golden or orange-red freshwater fishes of Eurasia used as pond or aquarium fishes
   synonyms: Carassius auratus

   types:

   silverfish

   a silvery variety of Carassius auratus

   type of:

   cyprinid, cyprinid fish

   soft-finned mainly freshwater fishes typically having toothless jaws and cycloid scales