: a European freshwater cyprinid fish (Barbus barbus) with four barbels on its upper jaw
also
: any of various closely related fishes
: a slender tactile process on the lips of certain fishes (such as catfishes)
Examples of barbel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Sep. 2024
Three pairs of whisker-like barbels hang from their mouths.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 12 June 2024
The percussion is the smacking lips of countless barbel, a type of catfish, in a feeding frenzy.
—Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2024
Just as the tiny minnow powers the barbel run in the river, which sustains various larger creatures, so do each of our individual choices contribute to the interwoven tapestry of the human species.
—Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2024
Anglerfish famously use a glowing barbel to attract prey to their mouths, like moths to a flame.
—Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Mar. 2022
In Africa, the unassuming barbel fish will swim among the hippos, cleansing the mighty beasts’ bodies of parasites.
—Sean McGowan, The New Yorker, 1 Oct. 2021
Filipina Hidelyn Diaz hoisted a barbel more than twice her body weight and won the women’s 55 kg category for weightlifting at the Tokyo 2020 games on Monday (July 26).
—Anne Quito, Quartz, 27 July 2021
The females in this species grow a bioluminescent lure on their heads, as well as a long, branchlike barbel on their lower jaw.
—Discover Magazine, 8 May 2014
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
These fish use legs to taste the seafloor (link in description)
Watch on
This discovery wasn’t necessarily a surprise, as other types of fish, such as goatfish and catfish, have taste receptors on the barbels that protrude from their heads.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Sep. 2024
Three pairs of whisker-like barbels hang from their mouths.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 12 June 2024
The percussion is the smacking lips of countless barbel, a type of catfish, in a feeding frenzy.
—Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2024
Just as the tiny minnow powers the barbel run in the river, which sustains various larger creatures, so do each of our individual choices contribute to the interwoven tapestry of the human species.
—Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2024
Anglerfish famously use a glowing barbel to attract prey to their mouths, like moths to a flame.
—Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Mar. 2022
In Africa, the unassuming barbel fish will swim among the hippos, cleansing the mighty beasts’ bodies of parasites.
—Sean McGowan, The New Yorker, 1 Oct. 2021
Filipina Hidelyn Diaz hoisted a barbel more than twice her body weight and won the women’s 55 kg category for weightlifting at the Tokyo 2020 games on Monday (July 26).
—Anne Quito, Quartz, 27 July 2021
The females in this species grow a bioluminescent lure on their heads, as well as a long, branchlike barbel on their lower jaw.
—Discover Magazine, 8 May 2014
Dictionary Entries Near barbel
Cite this Entry
“Barbel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barbel. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share