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a(n) + eel (singular count)
指具体的一条鳗鱼时，eel 是可数名词，需用 a/an 或数词。
We saw an eel in the river.
我们在河里看到一条鳗鱼。
鳗鱼；鳝鱼
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
鳗鱼；鳝鱼
an elongate fish found in fresh water in Europe and America
We saw an eel in the river.
我们在河里看到一条鳗鱼。
鳗鲡目细长如蛇的淡水鱼
Any freshwater fish of the order Anguilliformes, which are elongated and resemble snakes.
鳗鱼的肥美肉；一种产于欧美淡水中的细长鱼；大鳗鱼通常熏制或腌制
the fatty flesh of eel; an elongate fish found in fresh water in Europe and America; large eels are usually smoked or pickled
欧洲鳗鲡
A European eel (Anguilla anguilla).
贪婪的蛇形海鱼或淡水鱼,皮肤光滑黏滑,通常无鳞,有连续的垂直鳍但无腹鳍
voracious snakelike marine or freshwater fishes with smooth slimy usually scaleless skin and having a continuous vertical fin but no ventral fins
At the restaurant, I ordered grilled eel with rice.
在餐厅，我点了烤鳗鱼配米饭。
The fisherman caught a long eel in the river.
渔夫在河里捕到了一条长长的鳗鱼。
Some people enjoy smoked eel, but I prefer it fresh.
有些人喜欢吃熏鳗鱼，但我更喜欢新鲜的。
指具体的一条鳗鱼时，eel 是可数名词，需用 a/an 或数词。
We saw an eel in the river.
我们在河里看到一条鳗鱼。
用零冠词复数 eels 可泛指整个类别，不需特指。
Eels often hide under rocks.
鳗鱼通常躲在岩石下。
描述鳗鱼的处理方式时常用被动语态，如 smoked（熏制）或 pickled（腌制）。
Large eels are usually smoked or pickled.
大的鳗鱼通常被熏制或腌制。
Not this
There are many eel in the river.
Use this
There are many eels in the river.
eel 表示“鳗鱼”这种动物时是可数名词，前面有 many 表示复数，必须加 -s；汉语名词没有复数形式，所以学习者容易漏掉复数词尾。
Not this
I had an eel for lunch.
Use this
I had eel for lunch.
这里的 eel 指午餐吃的“鳗鱼肉”，是不可数名词，不能用不定冠词 an；只有指一整条活鱼时才说 an eel。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
熏鳗鱼
Smoked eel is a popular delicacy in many European countries.
熏鳗鱼在许多欧洲国家是一种受欢迎的佳肴。
淡水鳗鱼
Freshwater eels migrate to the sea to spawn.
淡水鳗鱼会迁徙到海里产卵。
电鳗
An electric eel can generate a powerful shock.
电鳗能产生强大的电击。
捕鳗鱼
Eel fishing is strictly regulated in this region.
该地区的鳗鱼捕捞受到严格管制。
像鳗鱼一样滑溜
The suspect was as slippery as an eel and escaped the police.
那名嫌疑人像鳗鱼一样滑溜，从警察手里逃脱了。
非常狡猾；难以捉摸
The politician was as slippery as an eel when asked about the scandal.
当被问及那桩丑闻时，这位政客像鳗鱼一样难以捉摸。
（像鳗鱼一样）扭动；极力逃避或推脱
She wriggled like an eel every time I tried to pin her down for an answer.
每次我想逼她给出答案，她都像鳗鱼一样扭来扭去地逃避。
发长 /iː/ 音 (如 see, free)
Use eel naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
把eel联想成一条长长的鳗鱼：字母e像鱼身，拖个尾巴，滑溜溜地游走。
语域：neutral 常见场景：everyday conversation、cooking and recipes、popular science writing 该词为中性用语，通常用于日常对话、菜谱或一般科普中描述鳗鱼或其鱼肉；正式学术或分类场合则可能使用更专门的术语。
eel 读 /iːl/。feel、peel、heel、wheel 都拼作 -eel，读音相同。meal 也读 /iːl/，但拼作 -eal。注意：ell 看起来和 eel 很像，但读 /el/，不要混淆。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.