an angler

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A person who catches fish with a rod, line, and hook, usually for pleasure rather than for a living.

   Grammar: Countable: say "an angler" for one, "anglers" for more than one.

   Patterns

   • an angler catches something
   • an angler fishes for something
   • a keen angler

   An angler stood at the edge of the river, waiting for a bite.

   She became a serious angler after her grandfather taught her to fish.

   The lake is popular with anglers in the early morning.

2. 2nouncountabletechnicalbiology

   A type of fish with a light that grows from its head, used to attract other fish in deep, dark water.

   Grammar: In this sense the full name is usually "anglerfish," but science writing sometimes shortens it to "angler."

   Patterns

   • a deep-sea angler
   • the angler's lure

   The deep-sea angler uses a glowing lure to draw in its prey.

   Scientists filmed an angler more than a thousand meters below the surface.

Word forms

Common combinations

a keen angler

My uncle is a keen angler who goes out in all weather.

an angler casts a line

The angler cast her line into the middle of the stream.

a fly angler

Fly anglers need a very light rod and a steady hand.

an angler's rod

He propped his angler's rod against the fence and sat down.

Synonyms and how they differ

fisherman

More general and often used for someone who fishes as a job; "angler" usually suggests fishing for sport.

fisher

A slightly older or more literary word for a person who fishes; it can also mean a type of animal that hunts fish.

Word family

angle verb

To fish with a rod and line, or (figuratively) to try to get something by indirect means.

angling noun

The activity or sport of catching fish with a rod and line.

Commonly confused: an angler or anglerfish? an angler or angler?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “an angler”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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