trout

A trout is a kind of fish that usually lives in cool, clean rivers, streams, and lakes. When people talk about one, they often mean a quick, spotted freshwater fish that is caught for sport or for food. You might picture one flashing through clear water or rising to the surface in a quiet mountain stream.

The word is most often used for several closely related fish, such as rainbow, brown, or brook trout. It often appears in writing about fishing, nature, and outdoor life, and it can also show up on menus because this fish is commonly cooked and eaten.

Trout is the name for several related kinds of fish, mostly known as freshwater fish that live in cool, clean water. People commonly use the word for fish such as rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, and cutthroat trout. In many cases, the word suggests a fish with small spots, a smooth body, and a strong link to rivers, streams, and lakes. Some kinds spend all their lives in fresh water, while others, such as steelhead, also live in the sea for part of their lives before returning inland.

In everyday English, "trout" is used mainly in three ways. First, it names the animal itself, especially in nature writing or when someone is talking about fish found in streams and lakes. Second, it is common in the language of fishing, where people talk about catching, releasing, or looking for trout in clear water. Third, it is used for food, both when buying the fish and when describing a meal made from it.

The word also carries a wider feeling in many contexts. It can suggest wild places, clean water, and quiet outdoor life, because these fish are strongly connected with healthy rivers and lakes. A less common British slang use, as in "old trout," refers to an unpleasant older woman, but this meaning is insulting and should be used with care. In most situations, though, "trout" simply means the fish.