gill Definition
- 1a respiratory organ in fish and other aquatic animals that extracts dissolved oxygen from water
- 2a unit of liquid capacity equal to a quarter of a pint or four fluid ounces (approximately 142 milliliters)
- 3one of the thin vertical plates on the underside of mushroom caps
Using gill: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "gill" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
Fish use their gills to breathe underwater.
Example
The recipe calls for half a gill of brandy.
Example
The gills of the mushroom were still moist.
Example
He was drinking a gill of ale at the pub.
gill Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for gill
Phrases with gill
slit one's gills
to cut one's throat
Example
He threatened to slit my gills if I didn't give him the money.
Example
The fishermen used a gill net to catch the salmon.
gill rakers
bony structures in the gills of some fish that help filter food particles from the water
Example
The herring's gill rakers were clogged with plankton.
Origins of gill
Old English 'gylle', meaning 'breath'
Summary: gill in Brief
The term 'gill' [ɡɪl] refers to three distinct concepts. First, it is a respiratory organ in fish and other aquatic animals that extracts dissolved oxygen from water. Second, it is a unit of liquid capacity equal to a quarter of a pint or four fluid ounces. Finally, it is one of the thin vertical plates on the underside of mushroom caps. The phrase 'slit one's gills' means to cut one's throat.
