killer whale

killer whale

noun

Definition of KILLER WHALE

: a small gregarious toothed whale (Orcinus orca of the family Delphinidae) that is black with a white ventral side and white oval-shaped patches behind the eyes and attains a length of 20 to 30 feet (6.1 to 9.1 meters) —called also orca

First Known Use of KILLER WHALE

1884

Rhymes with KILLER WHALE

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killer whale

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Killer whale (Orcinus orca).—Miami Seaquarium

A species (Orcinus orca) of toothed whale found in all seas from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Largest of the dolphins, the male may be 30 ft (9 m) long and weigh over 10,000 lbs (4,500 kg). The killer whale is black, with white on the underparts, above each eye, and on each flank. The snout is blunt, and the strong jaws have 40–50 large, sharp, conical teeth. Killer whales live in groups of a few to about 50 individuals. They feed on fishes, cephalopods, penguins, and marine mammals; though they are fierce predators of seals and even other whales, there is no recorded instance of a killer whale attacking a human. They are often kept in captivity and trained as performers in marine shows.

Variants of KILLER WHALE

killer whale or orca