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shark (shärk)
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n.
1. Any of numerous cartilaginous fishes of the subclass Elasmobranchii that are chiefly carnivorous and marine. Sharks have a streamlined torpedolike body, five to seven gill openings on each side of the head, a large oil-filled liver, and tough skin covered with small toothlike scales.
2. Informal A person, such as a loan shark, who takes advantage of the misfortune of others for personal gain.
3. Informal A person unusually skilled in a particular activity: a card shark.
v. sharked, shark·ing, sharks
v.tr.
Archaic
To obtain by deceitful or underhand means.
v.intr.
To take advantage of others for personal gain, especially by fraud and trickery.

[Origin unknown.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.