cetacean

[ si-tey-shuhn ]

adjective

1. belonging to the Cetacea, an order of aquatic, chiefly marine mammals, including the whales and dolphins.

noun

1. a cetacean mammal.

cetacean

/ sɪˈteɪʃən /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the Cetacea, an order of aquatic placental mammals having no hind limbs and a blowhole for breathing: includes toothed whales (dolphins, porpoises, etc) and whalebone whales (rorquals, right whales, etc)

noun

1. a whale

cetacean

/ sĭ-tā′shən /

1. Any of various, often very large aquatic mammals of the order Cetacea, having a hairless body that resembles that of a fish. Cetaceans have an elongated skull, a flat, horizontal tail, forelimbs modified into broad flippers, and no hind limbs. They breathe through blowholes located usually at the top of the skull. Whales, dolphins, and porpoises are cetaceans.
2. See more at baleen whale

Other Words From

• ce·taceous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cetacean¹

1830–40; < New Latin Cetace ( a ) name of the order ( cet-, -acea ) + -an

Word History and Origins

Origin of cetacean¹

C19: from New Latin Cētācea, ultimately from Latin cētus whale, from Greek kētos

Example Sentences

Some scientists have guessed that the unusual cetacean may be a hybrid of whale species, while others have wondered if it may be deaf.

From Outside Online

However much the cetacean acrobatics look like mirth, we would be wrong to put that idea onto what we’re seeing.

From Nautilus

Regardless of the purpose of their soulful howls, whale songs are a cost-effective way to study cetaceans.

From Popular-Science

Firstly, a range of cetacean behaviors are interpreted as displays of notable intelligence.

From Quartz

That would put mole-rats on the ever-expanding list of animals known to have such dialects, a list once limited to songbirds and cetaceans.

From Popular-Science

He went and stood on the bank, in the interest of science, and studied the habits of the cetacean, but he got no results.

From Project Gutenberg

He ran away through the woods around the north shore, and I ran after, to see him study the habits of the cetacean.

From Project Gutenberg

In his agony, the great cetacean, instead of sounding, threw himself blindly toward the boat.

From Project Gutenberg

The enormous cetacean disappeared and reappeared as the waves rose and fell, showing its black back like a rock in open sea.

From Project Gutenberg

One must harpoon him like a cetacean with questions to make him talk at all.

From Project Gutenberg