car·char·i·as \kärˈka(a)rēəs\noun Usage: capitalized Etymology: New Latin, from Greek karcharias, a shark, from karcharos sawlike, jagged; akin to Sanskrit khara harsh, rough 1.: the type and sole recent genus of Carchariidae that comprises the common sand sharks 2.in some classifications: a genus of sharks variously limited; especially: one coextensive with the genus Carcharhinus