What does "gar" mean?
Any of several North American fish of the family Lepisosteidae that have long, narrow jaws.
Gar
/ɡɑː/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Any of several North American fish of the family Lepisosteidae that have long, narrow jaws.
- Grammar: gar is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: billfish, fish, garfish, garpike.
- Usage evidence: Gladly pass the souls of the righteous to the golden seat of Ahura Mazda, to the golden seat of the Amesha-Spentas, to the Garô-nmânem, the abode of Ahura Mazda, the abode of the Amesha-Spentas, the abode of all the other holy beings.
How to use "gar"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "gar" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "gar" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "gar" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "gar" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "gar" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "billfish" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "gar", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any of several North American fish of the family Lepisosteidae that have long, narrow jaws. Canada, US, especially
"Gars are long, slender, predatory fishes of quiet waters east of the Rockies."
- 2 Initialism of glycineamide ribonucleotide. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
- 3 elongate European surface-dwelling predacious fishes with long toothed jaws; abundant in coastal waters wordnet
- 4 A garfish, Belone belone. Ireland, UK, especially
- 5 Initialism of glutathione amide reductase. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 primitive predaceous North American fish covered with hard scales and having long jaws with needlelike teeth wordnet
- 7 Initialism of gross annual revenue. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
Verb
- 1 To make, compel (someone to do something); to cause (something to be done). UK, dialectal
"I shall firste begyn at Sandwyche, and there I shall go in my shearte, barefoote, and at every ten myles ende I shall founde and gar make an house of religious, of what order that ye woll assygne me [...]."
Proper Noun
- 1 Initialism of Grand Army of the Republic. US, abbreviation, alt-of, historical, initialism, obsolete
"He was a Yankee and they say he would not hang a man who had been in the G.A.R."
- 2 A county of Ngari prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, China.
"No crops had ever grown before at the high altitude of Menshih Township of Gar County at the foot of Kangtiszu Peak."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Gladly pass the souls of the righteous to the golden seat of Ahura Mazda, to the golden seat of the Amesha-Spentas, to the Garô-nmânem, the abode of Ahura Mazda, the abode of the Amesha-Spentas, the abode of all the other holy beings."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "gar"?
Common synonyms include: billfish, fish, garfish, garpike, lepisosteus osseus, needlefish.
How do you use "gar" in a sentence?
Gladly pass the souls of the righteous to the golden seat of Ahura Mazda, to the golden seat of the Amesha-Spentas, to the Garô-nmânem, the abode of Ahura Mazda, the abode of the Amesha-Spentas, the abode of all the other holy beings.
How do you pronounce "gar"?
Pronounced /ɡɑː/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Clipping of garfish, from Middle English gare + fish.
Etymology 2
From Middle English garren, gerren, from Old Norse gera, gerva (Swedish göra, Danish gøre), from Proto-Germanic *garwijaną. Compare yare; but also Old Cornish gorra (“put, place, set”).
Etymology 3
From Tibetan སྒར (sgar).