basking shark

[ bas-king, bah-sking ]

noun

1. a large shark, Cetorhinus maximus, of cold and temperate seas, that often swims slowly or floats at the surface.

basking shark

noun

1. a very large plankton-eating shark, Cetorhinus maximus , often floating at the sea surface: family Cetorhinidae Also calledsailfish

Word History and Origins

Origin of basking shark¹

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

The marine environment around the Treshnish Isles is also part of the Sea of the Hebrides Marine Protected Area due to the presence of basking sharks and minke whales.

From BBC

Most of the time his only company are seals, basking sharks and seabirds such as puffins and razorbills.

From BBC

He once led a boat in hot pursuit of what he thought was a school bus–size basking shark—only to find the wake he was following came from a lone salmon.

From Science Magazine

"But Wales hosts a range of different shark species, over 25 in fact, from one of the rarest in the world - the angel shark - to one of the largest, which is the basking shark."

From BBC

"Leaving the Isle of Man I was followed by a basking shark, it wasn't going to eat me but it was still very scary," she says.

From BBC