tetra

1 of 2

noun

tet·​ra ˈte-trə How to pronounce tetra (audio)
: any of numerous small often brightly colored South American characin fishes often bred in tropical aquariums

tetra-

2 of 2

combining form

variants or tetr-
1
: four : having four : having four parts
tetravalent
2
: containing four atoms or groups (of a specified kind)
tetrachloride

Examples of tetra in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Maine Daniel Grill/tetra Images | Tetra Images | Getty Images The Pine Tree State is America’s safest, with just 29 homicides in the whole state in 2022. — Scott Cohn, CNBC, 13 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

by shortening from New Latin Tetragonopterus, former genus name, from Late Latin tetragonum quadrangle + Greek pteron wing — more at tetragonal, feather

Combining form

New Latin, from Greek; akin to Greek tettares four — more at four

First Known Use

Noun

1931, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tetra was in 1931

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Tetra.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tetra. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

tetra

1 of 2 noun
tet·​ra ˈte-trə How to pronounce tetra (audio)
: any of various small brightly colored South American fishes often kept in tropical aquariums

tetra-

2 of 2 combining form
: four : having four : having four parts
Etymology

Combining form

derived from Greek tetra- "four"

More from Merriam-Webster on tetra

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tetra

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