humpback whale

[ huhmp-bak hweyl, weyl ]

noun
  1. a large baleen whale of the genus Megaptera having long narrow flippers, and noted for its habit of arching deeply as it dives: an endangered species.

Origin of humpback whale

1
First recorded in 1715–25

Words Nearby humpback whale

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use humpback whale in a sentence

  • The humpback whale is one of these "Finners," distinguished by its excessively long flippers and huge bulk.

    More Science From an Easy Chair | Sir E. Ray (Edwin Ray) Lankester