CETACEAN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does cetacean mean? 

• CETACEAN (noun)
  The noun CETACEAN has 1 sense:

1. large aquatic carnivorous mammal with fin-like forelimbs no hind limbs, including: whales; dolphins; porpoises; narwhals

  Familiarity information: CETACEAN used as a noun is very rare.

• CETACEAN (adjective)
  The adjective CETACEAN has 1 sense:

1. of or relating to whales and dolphins etc

  Familiarity information: CETACEAN used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CETACEAN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Large aquatic carnivorous mammal with fin-like forelimbs no hind limbs, including: whales; dolphins; porpoises; narwhals

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

blower; cetacean; cetacean mammal

Hypernyms ("cetacean" is a kind of...):

aquatic mammal (whales and dolphins; manatees and dugongs; walruses; seals)

Meronyms (parts of "cetacean"):

fluke (either of the two lobes of the tail of a cetacean)

blowhole (the spiracle of a cetacean located far back on the skull)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "cetacean"):

whale (any of the larger cetacean mammals having a streamlined body and breathing through a blowhole on the head)

Holonyms ("cetacean" is a member of...):

Cetacea; order Cetacea (an order of Eutheria)

pod (a group of aquatic mammals)

Derivation:

cetacean (of or relating to whales and dolphins etc)

• CETACEAN (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of or relating to whales and dolphins etc

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Synonyms:

cetacean; cetaceous

Pertainym:

Cetacea (an order of Eutheria)

Derivation:

Cetacea (an order of Eutheria)

cetacean (large aquatic carnivorous mammal with fin-like forelimbs no hind limbs, including: whales; dolphins; porpoises; narwhals)

 Context examples 

The South Atlantic is inhabited by 51 species of cetaceans.

(Brazil to support South Atlantic whale sanctuary bid, Agência BRASIL)

Brazil is going to support the creation of a whale sanctuary in the South Atlantic to protect cetaceans from hunting and ensure their survival.

(Brazil to support South Atlantic whale sanctuary bid, Agência BRASIL)