beluga

noun be·lu·ga \ bə-ˈlü-gə \

Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

Definition of beluga

1 : a large white sturgeon (Huso huso synonym Acipenser huso) of the Black Sea, Caspian Sea, and their tributaries; also : caviar processed from beluga roe — compare osetra, sevruga

[Russian belukha, from belyĭ]

: a toothed whale (Delphinapterus leucas) of arctic and subarctic waters having a fusiform body that is about 10 to 15 feet (3.0 to 5.0 meters) long and white when mature — called also white whale

See beluga defined for kids

Recent Examples of beluga from the Web

Ibérico ham is the beluga caviar of the porcine world.

— The Economist, "Mis-labelled Ibérico ham makes Spanish foodies squeal," 19 Apr. 2018
Mystic Aquarium is known for its penguins, beluga whales, sea lions, sea anemones, sharks and all manner of marine life.

— susan dunne, courant.com, "'Jurassic Giants' Invade Mystic Aquarium For Rest Of 2018," 6 Apr. 2018
San Antonio has an adorable new resident: Tyonek, a 5-month-old beluga whale calf.

— joshua fechter, San Antonio Express-News, "Beluga whale calf makes 4,000-mile trip from Alaska to SeaWorld San Antonio," 12 Mar. 2018
Nothing about baby beluga whale Tyonek’s story is ordinary.

— joshua fechter, San Antonio Express-News, "Baby beluga whale Tyonek’s unusual, 4,000-mile journey to San Antonio," 13 Feb. 2018
Back Caption Options Close Settings Language English Font Size Small Medium Large Position Auto Bottom Top Sample Caption Text 0:00 0:00 0:00 Will Splurge On Iranian beluga caviar.

— benjy hansen-bundy, GQ, "How To Be Better Than Everyone Else In 2018," 7 Feb. 2018
Across all institutions, data will be gathered on 290 common and Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, 20 beluga whales, and eight Pacific white-sided dolphins.

— alex stuckey, Houston Chronicle, "Dolphin health and welfare to be studied at Texas State Aquarium," 12 Jan. 2018
The team collaborated with scientists from Russia and the Netherlands to look for this effect in a bottlenose dolphin, a harbor porpoise, and a beluga whale, in addition to extending the study on the false killer whale.

— kimberly hickok, Science | AAAS, "Whales and dolphins can naturally muffle loud sounds, potentially protecting them from sonar and other dangers," 11 Dec. 2017
In the fall, hunters harvest seal and beluga whale, and women pick berries.

— loren holmes, Anchorage Daily News, "A visit from Santa brings hope to a Western Alaska village," 9 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'beluga.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.