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pelagic

Pronunciation: /pɪˈladʒɪk/
Definition of pelagic

adjective

technical
  • relating to the open sea:the kittiwakes return from their pelagic winter wanderings
  • (chiefly of fish) inhabiting the upper layers of the open sea: there are very few pelagic fish to be seenOften contrasted with demersal.
  • (of a bird) inhabiting the open sea and returning to the shore only to breed.

noun

  • a pelagic fish or bird.

Origin:

mid 17th century: via Latin from Greek pelagikos, from pelagios 'of the sea' (from pelagos 'level surface of the sea')

pelagic in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of pelagic in the US English dictionary
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