cetacean

American  

[si-tey-shuhn] / sɪˈteɪ ʃən /

adjective

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

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noun

1. a cetacean mammal.

cetacean British  

/ 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)

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noun

1. a whale

cetacean Scientific  

/ 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 toothed whale

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Other Word Forms

• cetaceous
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of cetacean

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

Explanation

A cetacean is a member of the family of large aquatic mammals such as whales, dolphins, and porpoises. They have tails rather than hind limbs, and they have flippers instead of forearms. The word cetacean comes from the Latin word cetus, which was used to refer to any large sea creature, and the Greek word ketos, which was a sea monster or whale. The suffix acea means "of the nature of," so cetacean describes a creature belonging to the family of whales or dolphins. As an adjective, the word is used to describe things related to this group. If you like whales and dolphins, you may enjoy cetacean stories like "Moby Dick."

Example Sentences

Cetacean species like whales and dolphins have been described musically throughout history.

From Salon • Aug. 23, 2024

Cetacean experts - whose specialty is aquatic mammals - have been examining tissue samples in a bid to establish the cause of the stranding.

From BBC • Jul. 16, 2024

The Cetacean Desk, complete with a small blue placard identifying the desk and five monitors, is embedded within the Puget Sound Vessel Traffic Service and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 22, 2024

The L.A. chapter of the American Cetacean Society keeps track of the animals spotted from the Rancho Palos Verdes interpretive center.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 14, 2023

And the small 'Stute Fish said in a small 'stute voice, 'Noble and generous Cetacean, have you ever tasted Man?'

From Just So Stories by Kipling, Rudyard