n, pl  cod  also  cods  :  any of various bottom-dwelling fishes (family Gadidae, the cod family) that usu. occur in cold marine waters and often have barbels and three dorsal fins: as  a  :  one (Gadus morhua) of the No. Atlantic that is an important food fish  b  :  one (Gadus macrocephalus) of the Pacific Ocean .
 
 
 
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