Synonyms for

Gill

Verb / gɪl / Another word for gill — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

a breathing organ of fish and other aquatic animals, used for extracting oxygen from water

Synonyms & similar words

lamella branchia branchia lung fluke flipper fin scale tail tentacle whisker spine backbone vertebra skeleton bone cartilage tendon muscle nerve

Synonyms by register

Formal

branchia respiratory organ

Literary

water-lungs

Antonyms

lung air-breather terrestrial land-dweller

Common collocations

  • fish gill
  • gill arch
  • gill slit
  • gill raker
  • gill filament
  • operculum and gill
  • breathing through gills

Word family

noun gill

Usage note

A gill is the respiratory organ of aquatic animals. It is not typically used metaphorically, and there are no common antonyms in everyday language, though 'lung' can be considered a functional opposite.

Example sentences

  1. The fish's gills were bright red.
  2. We had to dissect a fish and examine its gills in science class.
  3. The turtle uses its gills to breathe while underwater.
  4. The shark's gills allow it to extract oxygen from the water.
  5. The fisherman removed the hook from the fish's gill and released it back into the water.

Quotes

  • I have gills, not lungs, so I can stay underwater for as long as I like.
  • My gills are a reminder of where I came from.
  • The gill is the fish's equivalent of the lung.

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