Word Meanings - WHALE - Book Publishers vocabulary database

Any aquatic mammal of the order Cetacea, especially any one of the large species, some of which become nearly one hundred feet long. Whales are hunted chiefly for their oil and baleen, or whalebone. Note: The existing whales are divided into two

Additional info about word: WHALE

Any aquatic mammal of the order Cetacea, especially any one of the large species, some of which become nearly one hundred feet long. Whales are hunted chiefly for their oil and baleen, or whalebone. Note: The existing whales are divided into two groups: the toothed whales , including those that have teeth, as the cachalot, or sperm whale ; and the baleen, or whalebone, whales , comprising those that are destitute of teeth, but have plates of baleen hanging from the upper jaw, as the right whales. The most important species of whalebone whales are the bowhead, or Greenland, whale , the Biscay whale, the Antarctic whale, the gray whale , the humpback, the finback, and the rorqual. Whale bird. Any one of several species of large Antarctic petrels which follow whaling vessels, to feed on the blubber and floating oil; especially, Prion turtur , and Pseudoprion desolatus. The turnstone; -- so called because it lives on the carcasses of whales. -- Whale fin , whalebone. Simmonds. -- Whale fishery, the fishing for, or occupation of taking, whales. -- Whale louse , any one of several species of degraded amphipod crustaceans belonging to the genus Cyamus, especially C. ceti. They are parasitic on various cetaceans. -- Whale's bone, ivory. -- Whale shark. The basking, or liver, shark. A very large harmless shark (Rhinodon typicus) native of the Indian Ocean. It sometimes becomes sixty feet long. -- Whale shot, the name formerly given to spermaceti. -- Whale's tongue , a balanoglossus. (more info) walfisch, OHG. wal, Icel. hvalr, Dan. & Sw. hval, hvalfisk. Cf.

Related words: (words related to WHALE)

• DIVIDER
  An instrument for dividing lines, describing circles, etc., compasses. See Compasses. Note: The word dividers is usually applied to the instrument as made for the use of draughtsmen, etc.; compasses to the coarser instrument used by carpenters.
• DIVIDEND
  A number or quantity which is to be divided. (more info) 1. A sum of money to be divided and distributed; the share of a sum divided that falls to each individual; a distribute sum, share, or percentage; -- applied to the profits as appropriated
• MAMMALOGICAL
  Of or pertaining to mammalogy.
• EXIST
  exist; ex out + sistere to cause to stand, to set, put, place, stand 1. To be as a fact and not as a mode; to have an actual or real being, whether material or spiritual. Who now, alas! no more is missed Than if he never did exist. Swift.
• EXISTER
  One who exists.
• AQUATIC
  Pertaining to water growing in water; living in, swimming in, or frequenting the margins of waters; as, aquatic plants and fowls.
• EXISTIBLE
  Capable of existence. Grew.
• HUNT
  1. To search for or follow after, as game or wild animals; to chase; to pursue for the purpose of catching or killing; to follow with dogs or guns for sport or exercise; as, to hunt a deer. Like a dog, he hunts in dreams. Tennyson. 2. To search
• SPECIES
  A group of individuals agreeing in common attributes, and designated by a common name; a conception subordinated to another conception, called a genus, or generic conception, from which it differs in containing or comprehending more attributes,
• HUNT-COUNTER
  A worthless dog that runs back on the scent; a blunderer. Shak.
• MAMMALOGIST
  One versed in mammalogy.
• BECOME
  happen; akin to D. bekomen, OHG.a piquëman, Goth. biquiman to come 1. To pass from one state to another; to enter into some state or condition, by a change from another state, or by assuming or receiving new properties or qualities, additional
• WHICHEVER; WHICHSOEVER
  Whether one or another; whether one or the other; which; that one which; as, whichever road you take, it will lead you to town.
• MAMMALIAN
  Of or pertaining to the Mammalia or mammals.
• DIVIDUOUS
  Divided; dividual. He so often substantiates distinctions into dividuous, selfsubsistent. Coleridge.
• CETACEA
  An order of marine mammals, including the whales. Like ordinary mammals they breathe by means of lungs, and bring forth living young which they suckle for some time. The anterior limbs are changed to paddles; the tail flukes are horizontal. There
• EXISTENT
  Having being or existence; existing; being; occurring now; taking place. The eyes and mind are fastened on objects which have no real being, as if they were truly existent. Dryden.
• ORDERLY
  1. Conformed to order; in order; regular; as, an orderly course or plan. Milton. 2. Observant of order, authority, or rule; hence, obedient; quiet; peaceable; not unruly; as, orderly children; an orderly community. 3. Performed in good
• HUNTRESS
  A woman who hunts or follows the chase; as, the huntress Diana. Shak.
• MAMMALIA
  The highest class of Vertebrata. The young are nourished for a time by milk, or an analogous fluid, secreted by the mammary glands of the mother. Note: Mammalia are divided into threes subclasses; --I. Placentalia. This subclass embraces all the
• POSTEXIST
  To exist after; to live subsequently.
• SUBINDIVIDUAL
  A division of that which is individual. An individual can not branch itself into subindividuals. Milton.
• NONEXISTENCE
  1. Absence of existence; the negation of being; nonentity. A. Baxter. 2. A thing that has no existence. Sir T. Browne.
• IMBORDER
  To furnish or inclose with a border; to form a border of. Milton.
• ENLARGEMENT
  1. The act of increasing in size or bulk, real or apparent; the state of being increased; augmentation; further extension; expansion. 2. Expansion or extension, as of the powers of the mind; ennoblement, as of the feelings and character; as, an
• MISORDER
  To order ill; to manage erroneously; to conduct badly. Shak.
• SELF-EXISTENT
  Existing of or by himself,independent of any other being or cause; -- as, God is the only self-existent being.
• INDIVIDUALIZER
  One who individualizes.
• SUBDIVIDE
  To divide the parts of into more parts; to part into smaller divisions; to divide again, as what has already been divided. The progenies of Cham and Japhet swarmed into colonies, and those colonies were subdivided into many others. Dryden.
• FOOL-LARGESSE
  Foolish expenditure; waste. Chaucer.
• ACCORDER
  One who accords, assents, or concedes.
• NONEXISTENT
  Not having existence.