tuna

¹

[ too-nuh, tyoo- ]

noun

, plural (especially collectively) tu·na, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) tu·nas.

1. any of several large food and game fishes of the family Scombridae, inhabiting temperate and tropical seas. Compare albacore, bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna.
2. any of various related fishes.
3. Also called tuna 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 calledtunny 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

Their salmon is already sold out, but you can still get the tuna.

From Eater

The complaint alleges the ingredient billed as “tuna” for the chain’s sandwiches and wraps contains absolutely no tuna.

From Washington Post

Shredded tuna turns into a wispy tan cloud when it’s deep-fried.

From Washington Post

“We do believe we can extract and utilize the resources of the moon, just as we can extract and utilize tuna from the ocean,” he said earlier this year.

From Washington Post

By the time I finished The Outlaw Ocean, I couldn’t open a can of tuna without imagining a trickle of human blood oozing out.

From Outside Online

Champagne, which is also acidic, offers a nice complement to anything from tuna tartare to beef bourguignon.

From The Daily Beast

While the President chomped on his tuna fish sandwich, the Blackhawk pilot explained the details of his crash.

From The Daily Beast

His cannabis-infused menus range from truffle tuna casserole and coconut chicken to French toast and omelets.

From The Daily Beast

The next step was to steal one of the six pound tuna cans from the warehouse.

From The Daily Beast

The birdman cooked the flesh in his ‘kitchen’, which was a tuna can on top of an ‘eye’ just like mine.

From The Daily Beast

I suppose you would like to come instead, and from what I hear I think I'll put off that trip and try tuna again to-morrow.

From Project Gutenberg

The sea fairly seemed to boil as the fin of the tuna cut through the water at the surface.

From Project Gutenberg

Once more the tuna came up to the surface with a rush in order to get slack enough for a plunge.

From Project Gutenberg

The tuna, although a wonderful leaper, hardly ever rises from the water after it is fast to the line.

From Project Gutenberg

I have caught many tuna with Sam, and hooked big ones, but these giants are still roving the blue deeps.

From Project Gutenberg