tetra

¹

[ te-truh ]

noun

1. any of several tropical, freshwater fishes of the family Characidae, often kept in aquariums.

tetra-

²

1. a combining form meaning “four,” used in the formation of compound words:

   tetrabranchiate.

tetra

¹

/ ˈtɛtrə /

noun

1. any of various brightly coloured tropical freshwater fishes of the genus Hemigrammus and related genera: family Characidae (characins)

tetra-

²

combining_form

1. four

   tetrameter

Word History and Origins

Origin of tetra¹

1930–35; shortening of New Latin Tetragonopterus former genus name. See tetragon, -o-, -pterous

Origin of tetra²

< Greek, combining form of téttara, neuter of téttares four

Word History and Origins

Origin of tetra¹

C20: short for New Latin tetragonopterus (former genus name), from tetragon + -o- + -pterous, from Greek pteron wing

Origin of tetra²

from Greek

Example Sentences

To study the evolution of smell-driven behaviours in a laboratory setting, the researchers chose two closely related fish of the Mexican tetra species -- the blind cave-dwelling subtype, and its sighted surface river-dwelling counterpart.

From Science Daily

When floods carried some Mexican tetra river fish, Astyanax mexicanus, into about 30 different caves, other fish of the same species remained at the surface, providing a natural study in contrasting evolutionary paths.

From Washington Post

This form of pork-barrel politics is one reason so much of Japan's coastline is blighted by tetra pods, its rivers walled with grey concrete.

From BBC

But hunting in groups can enable predators to hunt prey that would otherwise be too fast, such as the tiny tetras.

From New York Times

Small fish, called tetras, are the target of the attack; they fly into the air and land stunned and motionless on the water.

From BBC