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minnow

American  
[min-oh] / ˈmɪn oʊ /

noun

plural

minnows,

plural

minnow
  1. a small, European cyprinoid fish, Phoxinus phoxinus.

  2. any other fish of the family Cyprinidae, including the carps, goldfishes, and daces.

  3. any of various unrelated, small fishes.

  4. a person or thing that is comparatively small or insignificant.

    With just six electoral votes up for grabs, the Midwestern swing state of Iowa is a mere minnow compared to giants like Florida and Ohio.

  5. Also called crypto minnow.  an investor who holds a small amount of cryptocurrency and is therefore unlikely to make transactions that have a significant effect on prices.

    In the world of cryptocurrency and blockchain, minnows still play a crucial role in decentralizing ownership and participation in the industry.


minnow British  
/ ˈmɪnəʊ /

noun

  1. a small slender European freshwater cyprinid fish, Phoxinus phoxinus

  2. any other small cyprinid

  3. angling a spinning lure imitating a minnow

  4. a small or insignificant person

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of minnow

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English minwe, Old English mynwe (unrecorded), feminine of myne; cognate with Old High German munewa, a kind of fish