# betta
## English
### Pronunciation

* (Received Pronunciation) IPA: /ˈbɛtɑː(ɹ)/, /ˈbɛtə(ɹ)/
* Audio (General Australian):(file)

### Etymology 1

From the genus name.

#### Noun

betta (plural bettas)
* Any fish of the genus Betta, especially Betta splendens (the Siamese fighting fish).
** 2005, Russell A. Powell, Introduction to Learning and Behavior‎, page 245:Rather than simply waiting for a clockwise turn and then presenting the mirror, past experience with another betta suggested that the turning behavior could be established more rapidly using a shaping procedure.
** 2006, Kasey Michaels, Everything's Coming Up Rosie‎, page 82:"Do you know that Siamese fighting fish—bettas—excrete ammonia in their waste, and that ammonia is toxic to fish? Twenty-four hours flapping their little gills in the same, unfiltered water, and they're history. […] "
** 2010, Nicole M. Jenkins, Glass Rock‎, page 163:I had previously bought a bright red betta fish from the Chinese spiritual store, which I also sense had been sent for Aurayah.

##### Synonyms

* (Betta splendens): beta fish, Siamese fighting fish

##### Derived terms

* Chinese betta (Macropodus spp.)
* dusky betta (Betta fusca)

##### Translations
#### See also

* betta on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
* betta on Wikispecies.Wikispecies

### Etymology 2
#### Adjective

betta
* Pronunciation spelling of better (comparative of good).
** 1894, Robert Louis Stevenson, The Ebb-Tide, published 2001, page 69:'I think no savvy. This one mo' betta,' he added, pointing to the house where the drunken captain slumbered: 'Take-a-sun all-e-time.'
** 2008, Sandra Snowden, The New Plantation‎, page 316:I pray dat dey he'p us liv' a betta lif ' den dey had.
** 2009, Jack Freeze, chapter IC, in They Shall Be Remembered: A Great American Saga from the War of 1812 to World War I‎, page 56:Joshua shyly looks down at his feet but then glances over at Harriet and says - “Miss Harriet, a beautiful form is betta dan a beautiful face, and a beautiful behavior is betta dan a beautiful form, it gives mo pleasure than statues or pictures. […] "

#### Adverb

betta
* Pronunciation spelling of better (comparative of well).
** 2003, William Jackson, And the Sea Shall Hide Them, published 2005, page 202:“Now she be lookin' betta,” one of the women said. “Like she has a chance to make it.”
** 2003, Karen Williams, chapter IC, in Passion and Pain‎, page 268:Now you even know the dope game betta than me, look how much money you save fo me when I went to jail.
** 2008, Sarah Deckard, Tapestry of Tales: Classic Fairy Tales Retold‎, page 181:“I see she's feelin' betta’,” he said in a muffled voice.
** 2010, Kathy R. Jackson, My Box of Jewels‎, page 237:Other than the omnipotent one, who betta to ask to help us pray for God's mercy and grace than Jesus' mother, the ev'a bless'd Virgin Mary.
* (slang) Pronunciation spelling of better (had better).
** 2007, Gwendolyn Pless, chapter IC, in Praying Hearts and Labor of Love‎, page 72:“Boy, if I done told you once, I done told you a thousand times, you betta leave them white girls alone before one of their boyfriends or husbands roll up on you, and put a hurtin on yo lil behind.”
** 2010, Deborah Wofford, Pour Me Out A Blessing Ministries: Presents Lyrical Bliss‎, page 25:You betta praise the Lord that's all I can say.
** 2010, Kenya K. Watkins, chapter IC, in The Life You Choose‎, page 58:If I had a lil sister, she betta be scared to screw and be about gettin that paper.

### Anagrams

* Batte

## Plautdietsch
### Adjective

betta
* bitter