bottlenose dolphin

noun bot·tle·nose dolphin \ ˈbä-tᵊl-ˌnōz- \

variants: or less commonly bottle-nosed dolphin play \ˈbä-tᵊl-ˌnōzd-\ or bottlenose

|Updated on: 24 Jun 2018

Definition of bottlenose dolphin

: a relatively small chiefly gray toothed whale (Tursiops truncatus) of temperate to tropical waters that has a prominent beak and falcate dorsal fin, reaches a length of 6 to 12 feet (1.8 to 3.6 meters), and is typically found in groups; also : a related whale (T. aduncus) of waters of the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean

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Recent Examples of bottlenose dolphin from the Web

Maxine, a 3-1/2-year-old Atlantic bottlenose dolphin at Brookfield Zoo, has died of a bacterial infection, the zoo announced Tuesday.

— steve johnson, chicagotribune.com, "Young Brookfield Zoo dolphin dies unexpectedly," 12 June 2018
Alia, a 10-year-old bottlenose dolphin that died Tuesday morning at Dolphinaris Arizona’s aquatic facility, was celebrated by a group of activists who held a memorial for her in Scottsdale on Wednesday.

— bayan wang, azcentral, "Activists pursue more information on dolphin's cause of death," 24 May 2018
Four common bottlenose dolphins residing in the aquarium’s Dolphin Bay exhibit also live in bay water.

— alex stuckey, San Antonio Express-News, "Texas State Aquarium doubles down on wildlife rescue, rehabilitation after Harvey," 3 June 2018
Alia’s death marks the second bottlenose dolphin to die within the past nine months at Dolphinaris Arizona, an aquatics attraction located off Loop 101, on the Salt River Reservation just east of Scottsdale.

— bayan wang, azcentral, "Activists pursue more information on dolphin's cause of death," 24 May 2018
The Atlantic bottlenose dolphin — bitten by a shark and also sick with pneumonia — was found washed up on the beach in March near Jacksonville.

— gabrielle russon, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Dolphin, bitten by shark, one step closer to being released," 14 May 2018
By Carrie Arnold PUBLISHED April 3, 2018 In the never-ending symphony of the sea, there's a standout among the percussive pings of bottlenose dolphins and the plaintive calls of humpback whales.

— National Geographic, "These Mysterious Whales Are the Jazz Musicians Of the Sea," 3 Apr. 2018
Hans Zimmer’s score—cymbal swashes of ecstasy and racing violins for the bottlenose dolphins, electro-orchestral groans for something ugly and unredeemed on the ocean floor—has been much praised.

— james parker, The Atlantic, "Blue Planet II," 10 Mar. 2018
Or, wake up to a morning of ocean kayaking through kelp beds while on the lookout for sea lions, bat rays, and bottlenose dolphins.

— erin behan, Los Angeles Magazine, "Make the Most of a SoCal Summer at Terranea," 7 May 2018

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

First Known Use of bottlenose dolphin

1826

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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