eel

• POS: Noun

CIDE DICTIONARY

eel, n. [AS. l; akin to D., G., & Dan. aal, Icel. āll, Sw. ål.].

 An elongated fish of many genera and species. The common eels of Europe and America belong to the genus Anguilla. The electrical eel is a species of Gymnotus. The so called vinegar eel is a minute nematode worm. See Conger eel, Electric eel, and Gymnotus.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

eel, n.
1 any of various snakelike fish, with slender body and poorly developed fins.
2 a slippery or evasive person or thing.

Idiom

eel-grass
1 any marine plant of the genus Zostera, with long ribbon-like leaves.
2 any submerged freshwater plant of the genus Vallisneria.

Derivative

eel-like adj. eely adj.

Etymology

OE {aelig}l f. Gmc

ROGET THESAURUS

eel

Convolution

N convolution, winding, convolution, involution, circumvolution, wave, undulation, tortuosity, anfractuosity, sinuosity, sinuation, meandering, circuit, circumbendibus, twist, twirl, windings and turnings, ambages, torsion, inosculation, reticulation, rivulation, roughness, coil, roll, curl, buckle, spiral, helix, corkscrew, worm, volute, rundle, tendril, scollop, scallop, escalop, kink, ammonite, snakestone, serpent, eel, maze, labyrinth, knot, convoluted, winding, twisted, tortile, tortive, wavy, undated, undulatory, circling, snaky, snake-like, serpentine, serpent, anguill, vermiform, vermicular, mazy, tortuous, sinuous, flexuous, anfractuous, reclivate, rivulose, scolecoid, sigmoid, sigmoidal, spiriferous, spiroid, involved, intricate, complicated, perplexed, labyrinth, labyrinthic, labyrinthian, labyrinthine, peristaltic, daedalian, kinky, knotted, wreathy, frizzly, crepe, buckled, raveled, spiral, coiled, helical, cochleate, cochleous, screw-shaped, turbinated, turbiniform, in and out, round and round, a can of worms, Gordian knot.