odontocete

[ oh-don-tuh-seet ]

noun

, Zoology.

1. any whale of the suborder Odontoceti, as dolphins, killer whales, and sperm whales, characterized by an asymmetrical skull, a single blowhole, and rows of teeth, feeding primarily on fish, squid, and crustaceans.

Word History and Origins

Origin of odontocete¹

1880–85; < New Latin Odontoceti, equivalent to odonto- odonto- + ceti, plural of cetus whale, Latin cētus < Greek kêtos