noun Download 🔗Share Any of many species of reef-dwelling fishes, most of them brightly coloured, of the family Acanthuridae. They are named "surgeonfish" because they bear erectile, scalpel-like, dangerously sharp spines on either side of the caudal peduncle. Examples : "While snorkeling on the coral reef, we spotted a vibrant blue surgeonfish, easily identifiable by the sharp, scalpel-like spines near its tail. " fish animal biology ocean nature Chat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading