tuna

¹

[too-nuh, tyoo-]

noun

plural

tuna ,

plural

tunas .

1. any of several large food and game fishes of the family Scombridae, inhabiting temperate and tropical seas.

2. any of various related fishes.

3. Also called tuna fish. the flesh of the tuna, used as food.

tuna

²

[too-nuh, tyoo-]

noun

1. any of various prickly pears, prickly pears, especially either of two erect, treelike species, Opuntia tuna or O. ficus-indica, of Mexico, bearing a sweet, edible fruit.

2. the fruit of these plants.

tuna

¹

/ ˈtjuːnə /

noun

1. Also called: tunny. any of various large marine spiny-finned fishes of the genus Thunnus , esp T. thynnus , chiefly of warm waters: family Scombridae . They have a spindle-shaped body and widely forked tail, and are important food fishes

2. any of various similar and related fishes

tuna

²

/ ˈtjuːnə /

noun

1. any of various tropical American prickly pear cacti, esp Opuntia tuna , that are cultivated for their sweet edible fruits

2. the fruit of any of these cacti

Word History and Origins

Origin of tuna¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1880–85; from Spanish (California), variant of Spanish atún, from Arabic al “the” + tūn, from Greek thýnnos tunny

Origin of tuna²

First recorded in 1545–55; from Spanish, from Taíno

Word History and Origins

Origin of tuna¹

C20: from American Spanish, from Spanish atún , from Arabic tūn , from Latin thunnus tunny, from Greek

Origin of tuna²

C16: via Spanish from Taino

Example Sentences

Hemingway never writes of mojama, but Mike Campbell shared tuna and onions and oil and vinegar with the band of dancers who adopted them along the festival’s path.

Read more on Salon

Even commercial fisheries could be affected; for instance, tuna populations migrate through the CCZ, meaning the impacts of mining could extend to seafood consumed around the world.

Read more on Science Daily

On one hilltop they found empty tuna cans and .50-caliber shells strewn about a fire pit.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Each offering had items for about 40 meals, with whole grains, fresh produce, tortillas, canned tuna, yogurt and frozen chicken.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Ms Manuel spent the last of her October Snap money last week on essentials like coffee, creamer and tuna.

Read more on BBC