barnacle
word
Definition
A barnacle is a small sea animal with a hard shell that attaches itself strongly to rocks, boats, or other surfaces in the water. It often looks like a little bump and does not move around when grown.
Usage & Nuances
Used mainly as a marine biology noun or sometimes metaphorically for people or things that cling stubbornly. Common collocation: 'barnacle on a ship's hull.' Not commonly used outside these contexts.
Example Sentences
A barnacle lives attached to rocks in the ocean.
basic
The boat's hull was covered with barnacles.
basic
Barnacles do not move once they grow up.
basic
It's hard to clean barnacles off a ship's bottom.
natural
Some people say tourists can be like barnacles, never leaving certain places.
natural
If you don't clean your dock, barnacles will quickly cover it.
natural