blowhole

noun

blow·​hole ˈblō-ˌhōl 

plural blowholes

1

: a hole in metal caused by a bubble of gas captured during solidification

2

: a nostril in the top of the head of a cetacean and especially a whale

3

: a hole or fissure in rocks along a shore through which incoming waves force air to rush upward or water to spout intermittently

The blowhole is in a place where ocean waves marching in from the north have undercut a lava shelf and carved a tire-sized hole so that surf can spout up like a Yellowstone geyser.

—Brian J. Cantwell

Examples of blowhole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In a video posted by the company, the whales can be seen surfacing and spouting mist from their blowholes before sinking back into the water. —Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 26 June 2024

In the video, around a half dozen of the animals can be seen breaching just feet from the boat and loudly spouting mist from their blowholes. —Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 20 May 2024

After looking at the girl for a few moments, the orca pulls away to swim up to the surface of the pool, taking a deep breath before letting some air out from its blowhole. —Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 10 Mar. 2024

Female koalas sometimes mount other females, while male Amazon river dolphins have been known to penetrate each other’s blowholes. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 5 June 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1691, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

blowhole

noun

blow·​hole -ˌhōl 

1

: a nostril in the top of the head of a whale or related animal

2

: a hole in the ice to which aquatic mammals (as seals) come to breathe