English · Nature & Environment
whale
/weɪl/
[/weɪl/]
giant sea mammal
Beginnernoun
Definition
A very large marine mammal that breathes air and nurses its young, including the blue whale.
Example
A blue whale, the largest animal on Earth, surfaced slowly beside the small fishing boat.
A blue whale, the largest animal on Earth, surfaced slowly beside the small fishing boat.
Etymology
From Old English 'hwæl', of Germanic origin.
How & Where It’s Used
Central to discussions of conservation and the history of whaling.