What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Piranha vs Shark - What's the difference?

piranha | shark |

As nouns the difference between piranha and shark

is that piranha is piranha (fish) while shark is a scaleless, predatory fish of the superorder selachimorpha, with a cartilaginous skeleton and 5 to 7 gill slits on each side of its head or shark can be (informal|derogatory) a sleazy and amoral lawyer; an ambulance chaser.

As a verb shark is

(obsolete) to steal or obtain through fraud or shark can be (obsolete) to pick or gather indiscriminately or covertly.

piranha

English

(wikipedia piranha)

Alternative forms

*

Noun

(en noun)
  • Any of the carnivorous freshwater fish living in South American rivers and belonging to the subfamily .

    • References

    ----

    shark

    English

    (wikipedia shark) (Selachimorpha)

    Etymology 1

    First attested in the 1560s, the word meaning 'scaleless fish' is of uncertain origin: it was apparently brought to England, with a specimen, by . The word may derive from the (etyl) xoc, or it may be an application of the "scoundrel" sense (which derives from the German ) to the fish; no explanation is agreed upon.[http://www.languagehat.com/archives/002843.php]

    Alternative forms

    * sharke (obsolete )

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A scaleless, predatory fish of the superorder Selachimorpha, with a cartilaginous skeleton and 5 to 7 gill slits on each side of its head.
  • * 1569', ''The true discripcion of this marueilous straunge Fishe, whiche was taken on Thursday was sennight, the xvi. day of June, this present month, in the yeare of our Lord God, M.D.lxix.'', a broadside printed in London, the earliest known use of the term; reprinted in ''A Collection of Seventy-Nine Black-Letter Ballads and Broadsides: printed in the reigh of Queen Elizabeth, between the years 1559 and 1597'' in ' 1867 :
    • The straunge fishe is in length xvij. foote and iij. foote broad, and in compas about the bodie vj. foote; and is round snowted, short headdid, hauing iij. rankes of teeth on either iawe, [...]. Also it hath v. gills of eache side of the head, shoing white. Ther is no proper name for it that I know, but that sertayne men of Captayne Haukinses doth call it a sharke .
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011, date=October 13, author=AP, work=The Guardian
    • , title= Man 'surfs' great white shark , passage=He said he had spoken to a woman who was kayaking off Catalina Island, California, in 2008 when a shark' slammed her kayak from underneath and sent her flying into the air. She then landed on the back of the '''shark''', Collier said. "At that point the ' shark started to swim out to sea, so she jumped off its back," Collier said.}}
  • Someone who exploits others, for example by trickery, lies, usury, extortion.
  • * , chapter=7
    • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=“[…] Churchill, my dear fellow, we have such greedy sharks , and wolves in lamb's clothing. Oh, dear, there's so much to tell you, so many warnings to give you, but all that must be postponed for the moment.”}}
    Synonyms
    * (scaleless cartilaginous fish) (l) (obsolete)
    Derived terms
    (shark and related fish species) * angel shark, angelshark * basking shark * bramble shark * bull shark * bullhead shark * bonnethead shark * carpetshark * catshark, cat shark * cookiecutter shark * cow shark * frilled shark * goblin shark * great white shark * Greenland shark * ground shark * gummyshark, gummy shark * hammerhead shark * hound shark, houndshark * lantern shark, lanternshark * lemon shark * leopard shark * mackerel shark * mako shark * nurse shark * requiem shark * sand shark * saw shark, sawshark * sleepershark * swellshark * thresher shark * tiger shark * weasel shark * whale shark * white shark

    See also

    * dogfish * hammerhead * porbeagle * smooth-hound * thresher * white pointer

    Etymology 2

    From the (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (informal, derogatory) A sleazy and amoral lawyer; an ambulance chaser.
  • (informal) A relentless and resolute person or group, especially in business.
  • (informal) A very good poker or pool player.
  • (sports, and, games) A person who feigns ineptitude to win money from others.
    • Synonyms
    * (player who feigns ineptitude to win money) hustler
    Usage notes
    * The use of the term by people unfamiliar with pool is rarely well perceived by experienced players.
    Derived terms
    (shark) * card shark * loan shark * pool shark * shark bait * sharklike * sharkskin

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To steal or obtain through fraud.
  • (obsolete) To play the petty thief; to practice fraud or trickery; to swindle.
  • * Bishop Earle
    • Neither sharks for a cup or a reckoning.
  • (obsolete) To live by shifts and stratagems.
    • (Beaumont and Fletcher)
    Derived terms
    * shirk

    Etymology 3

    Perhaps from the noun, or perhaps related to shear.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To pick or gather indiscriminately or covertly.
  • * Shakespeare, Hamlet I.i.
    • Fortinbras Sharked up a list of lawless resolutes.

    Anagrams

    * *

    References

    ----