<p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>plural (especially collectively) fish, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) fishes.</li><li>any of various cold-blooded, aquatic vertebrates, having gills, commonly fins, and typically an elongated body covered with scales.</li><li>(loosely) any of various aquatic animals.</li><li>the flesh of fishes used as food.</li><li>Fishes, Astronomy, Astrology: the constellation or sign of Pisces.</li><li>Informal: a person: an odd fish; a poor fish.</li><li>a long strip of wood, iron, etc., used to strengthen a mast, joint, etc.</li><li>Cards Slang: an incompetent player whose incompetence can be exploited.</li><li>Slang: a dollar: He sold the car for 500 fish.</li><li>Slang: a new prison inmate.</li><li>a high school or college freshman; frosh.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb</strong></p><ul><li><p>(used with object)</p><ul><li>to catch or attempt to catch (any species of fish or the like).</li><li>to try to catch fish in (a stream, lake, etc.): Let's fish the creek.</li><li>to draw, as by fishing (often followed by up or out): He fished a coin out of his pocket for the boy.</li><li>to search through, as by fishing.</li><li>Nautical: to secure (an anchor) by raising the flukes.</li><li>to reinforce (a mast or other spar) by fastening a spar, batten, metal bar, or the like, lengthwise over a weak place.</li></ul></li><li><p>(used without object)</p><ul><li>to catch or attempt to catch fish, as by angling or drawing a net.</li><li>to search carefully: He fished through all his pockets but his wallet was gone.</li><li>to seek to obtain something indirectly or by artifice: to fish for compliments; to fish for information.</li><li>to search for or attempt to catch onto something under water, in mud, etc., by the use of a dredge, rake, hook, or the like.</li><li>to attempt to recover detached tools or other loose objects from an oil or gas well.</li></ul></li><li><p>Verb Phrase:</p><ul><li>to deplete (a lake, stream, etc.) of fish by fishing.</li></ul></li></ul>