1. As an animal:
* A group of aquatic vertebrates: This is the most common meaning of "fish." It refers to a wide variety of animals that live in water and breathe through gills.
* A specific type of fish: "Fish" can also refer to a particular species, like "salmon" or "tuna."
2. As a symbol or metaphor:
* Silence: "Keeping mum like a fish" is a common saying, meaning to remain silent.
* Abundance: "There's plenty of fish in the sea" is a saying that means there are many opportunities or potential partners available.
* Christianity: The fish is a symbol of Christianity, representing Jesus Christ.
3. Other meanings:
* A verb: "To fish" means to try to catch fish.
* Slang: "Fish" can be slang for a person, often someone considered unattractive or undesirable.
To understand what "fish" means, you need to consider the context in which it is used.
Example:
* "I caught a big fish today." (This means the speaker caught a fish while fishing.)
* "He's got a fish face." (This means the person is considered unattractive.)
* "He's keeping mum like a fish." (This means the person is not talking.)