dolphin

[ dawl-fin, dol- ]

noun

1. any of several chiefly marine, cetacean mammals of the family Delphinidae, having a fishlike body, numerous teeth, and the front of the head elongated into a beaklike projection.
2. Also called dolphinfish, mahimahi,. either of two large, slender fishes, Coryphaena hippurus or C. equisetis, of warm and temperate seas.
3. Nautical.
   1. a pile, cluster of piles, or buoy to which a vessel may be moored in open water.
   2. a cluster of piles used as a fender, as at the entrance to a dock.
   3. a pudding fender at the nose of a tugboat or on the side of a vessel.
4. Dolphin, Astronomy. the constellation Delphinus.

dolphin

/ ˈdɒlfɪn /

noun

1. any of various marine cetacean mammals of the family Delphinidae , esp Delphinus delphis, that are typically smaller than whales and larger than porpoises and have a beaklike snout
2. river dolphin
   any freshwater cetacean of the family Platanistidae, inhabiting rivers of North and South America and S Asia. They are smaller than marine dolphins and have a longer narrower snout
3. Also calleddorado either of two large marine percoid fishes, Coryphaena hippurus or C. equisetis, that resemble the cetacean dolphins and have an iridescent coloration
4. nautical a post or buoy for mooring a vessel

Word History and Origins

Origin of dolphin¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English dolphyn, from Old French daulphin, from Old Provençal dalfin, from unattested Vulgar Latin dalfīnus, Latin delphīnus, from Greek delphī́n

Word History and Origins

Origin of dolphin¹

C13: from Old French dauphin, via Latin, from Greek delphin-, delphis

Example Sentences

According to the fossil record, cetaceans -- whales, dolphins and their relatives -- evolved from four-legged land mammals that returned to the oceans beginning some 50 million years ago.

From Science Daily

As for the quiz,”Cloaked Hillary” and the vacationing dolphin were from the Onion.

From Los Angeles Times

She said it made the pier a "dolphin hot spot".

From BBC

The earliest report of melioidosis in Hong Kong dates back to the mid-1970s, when 24 dolphins suddenly died of the disease in Ocean Park, a theme park.

From BBC

Last week, a UC San Diego photographer captured dolphins gliding through blue, glowing waters.

From Los Angeles Times