whale

1 of 3

noun

plural whales
often attributive
1
or plural whale : any of various very large, aquatic, marine mammals (order Cetacea) that have a torpedo-shaped body with a thick layer of blubber, paddle-shaped forelimbs but no hind limbs, a horizontally flattened tail, and nostrils that open externally at the top of the head
2
: one that is impressive especially in size
a whale of a difference
a whale of a good time
whalelike adjective

whale

2 of 3

verb (1)

whaled; whaling

intransitive verb

: to engage in whale fishing

whale

3 of 3

verb (2)

whaled; whaling

transitive verb

1
2
: to strike or hit vigorously
3
: to defeat soundly

Examples of whale in a Sentence

Noun a whale of a pickup truck
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
And an article circulating on Facebook that claimed offshore wind projects near Sydney would kill 400 whales per year turned out to be a fake. Michael E. Miller, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 Krill oil is a fish oil alternative made from tiny shrimp-like crustaceans, a dietary staple for Antarctic wildlife such as whales and birds. Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 5 Mar. 2024 The aquarium has asked the public to maintain a safe distance from the whale and any associated gear. USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024 The whales typically hunt in packs and ambush larger prey like seals, other whales, and sea lions. Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024 Then the ship will steam across the Atlantic to São Miguel Island in the Azores, where an extinct volcano, breaching whales, and hot springs await. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2024 The impacts cascaded through the food web, affecting fish, birds and whales. Lauren Sommer, NPR, 29 Feb. 2024 Fewer whales and calves were seen at breeding grounds during that time, as well. Li Cohen, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2024 Toothed whales, which include dolphins, sperm whales and beluga whales, evolved a nasal vocal organ to make sounds, while baleens rely on their larynx. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'whale.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English hwæl; akin to Old High German hwal whale and perhaps to Latin squalus sea fish

Verb (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1700, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

circa 1790, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of whale was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near whale

Cite this Entry

“Whale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whale. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

whale

1 of 3 noun
ˈhwā(ə)l How to pronounce whale (audio)
ˈwā(ə)l
plural whales or whale
1
: a water-dwelling mammal (as a humpback whale or a killer whale) that is a cetacean of usually very large size with a torpedo-shaped body, front limbs modified into flippers but no hind limbs, and a tail flattened and extended to the sides as flukes and that usually breathes through an opening on top of the head compare baleen whale, toothed whale
2
: something large enough to catch attention
it made a whale of a difference

whale

2 of 3 verb
whaled; whaling
: to hunt whales

whale

3 of 3 verb
whaled; whaling
1
2
: to hit hard
whaled the ball
Etymology

Noun

Old English hwæl "whale"

Verb

origin unknown

More from Merriam-Webster on whale

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