blowhole

American  

[bloh-hohl] / ˈbloʊˌhoʊl /

noun

• blowholes
  plural

1. an air or gas vent, especially one to carry off fumes from a tunnel, underground passage, etc.

2. either of two nostrils or spiracles, or a single one, at the top of the head in whales and other cetaceans, through which they breathe.

3. a hole in the ice to which whales or seals come to breathe.

4. Metallurgy. a defect in a casting or ingot caused by the escape of gas.

5. Geology. a hole in a sea cliff or coastal terrace through which columns of spray are jetted upward.

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blowhole British  

/ ˈbləʊˌhəʊl /

noun

1. the nostril, paired or single, of whales, situated far back on the skull

2. a hole in ice through which whales, seals, etc, breathe

3. 1. a vent for air or gas, esp to release fumes from a tunnel, passage, etc

   2. a hole emitting gas or steam in a volcanic region

4. a bubble-like defect in an ingot resulting from gas being trapped during solidification

5. geology a hole in a cliff top leading to a sea cave through which air is forced by the action of the sea

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• blowholes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of blowhole

First recorded in 1685–95; blow ² + hole

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

blowhole blowholes

Keep crowds and dogs away, keep noise low, and keep the animal cool and moist -ensuring no water enters the blowhole.

From BBC ● Mar. 9, 2026

He explains that the ideal position for the tag was directly behind the blowhole and oriented toward the head so it could capture feeding activity during deep dives.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 17, 2025

In the wheelhouse of a crab boat named Heidi Sue, Mike Pettis watched the gray whale surface and shoot water through its blowhole.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 4, 2023

To ensure a strong signal from the transmitter, he had to place the tag as high on the animal's back as possible but not too close to the sensitive skin surrounding the blowhole.

From Scientific American ● Mar. 14, 2023

“How could I be better for any of this?” he asked, horrified at how distorted and liquid his words sounded, as if he were speaking through the blowhole of a whale.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

Scientists flew drones equipped with special kit through the exhaled droplets, or "blows", made when the giants come up to breathe through their blowholes.

From BBC ● Dec. 18, 2025

Like the blue whale, fin whales are balleens, sporting two blowholes and, instead of teeth, hundreds of rows of baleen plates made of keratin.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2024

One shows bored fisherman being surprised by giant beer cans acting as whales, spraying water from their blowholes as they surface.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 2, 2024

Forelimbs morphed into flippers, noses became blowholes, ears remodeled to hear while submerged.

From Scientific American ● Mar. 14, 2023

Chuffs of air from their blowholes broke the still air.

From "Touching Spirit Bear" by Ben Mikaelsen