nurse shark

noun

: any of various usually bottom-dwelling sharks (family Ginglymostomatidae) with barbels near the nostrils
especially : a large yellowish to grayish brown shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) of warm usually shallow coastal waters that is typically nonaggressive and rests often in groups on the sea floor during the day

Examples of nurse shark in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The reef is ideal for spotting colorful fish, turtles, moray eels, nurse sharks, and even the occasional eagle ray gliding gracefully through the deep. Judy Koutsky, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025 In this case, the nurse shark was 3 feet smaller and the neighborhood was a shallow reef (75 feet deep) off Boynton Beach Inlet, about a 60-mile drive north from Miami. Mark Price, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2025 Gray nurse shark pups can grow as much as 11 inches per year, reaching a total length of about 10 feet in their lifetime, according to the aquarium. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 14 Mar. 2025 Thanks to a deep-sea channel adjacent to the resort, dolphins often visit the atoll twice daily, and snorkeling encounters may include nurse sharks, stingrays, and larger marine life. Kaila Yu, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nurse shark

Word History

Etymology

alteration of nusse

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nurse shark was in 1851

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Cite this Entry

“Nurse shark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nurse%20shark. Accessed 3 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

nurse shark

noun
: a shark of warm waters that is active at night

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