dolphin

[dawl-fin, dol-]

noun

1. any of several chiefly marine, cetacean mammals of the family Delphinidae, having a fishlike body, numerous teeth, and the front of the head elongated into a beaklike projection.

2. Also called dolphinfish, mahimahi. Also called pompano dolphin. either of two large, slender fishes, Coryphaena hippurus or C. equisetis, of warm and temperate seas.

3. Nautical.

   1. a pile, cluster of piles, or buoy to which a vessel may be moored in open water.

   2. a cluster of piles used as a fender, as at the entrance to a dock.

   3. a pudding fender at the nose of a tugboat or on the side of a vessel.

4. Astronomy.,  Dolphin, the constellation Delphinus.

dolphin

/ ˈdɒlfɪn /

noun

1. any of various marine cetacean mammals of the family Delphinidae , esp Delphinus delphis, that are typically smaller than whales and larger than porpoises and have a beaklike snout

2. any freshwater cetacean of the family Platanistidae, inhabiting rivers of North and South America and S Asia. They are smaller than marine dolphins and have a longer narrower snout

3. Also called: dorado. either of two large marine percoid fishes, Coryphaena hippurus or C. equisetis, that resemble the cetacean dolphins and have an iridescent coloration

4. nautical a post or buoy for mooring a vessel

Word History and Origins

Origin of dolphin¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English dolphyn, from Old French daulphin, from Old Provençal dalfin, from unattested Vulgar Latin dalfīnus, Latin delphīnus, from Greek delphī́n

Word History and Origins

Origin of dolphin¹

C13: from Old French dauphin, via Latin, from Greek delphin-, delphis

Example Sentences

Their prey included larger species such as California sea lions, northern elephant seals, gray whale calves and Pacific white-sided dolphins, and they typically hunted in groups averaging nine individuals.

Read more on Science Daily

“The Queen Mother will be fine—she cannot die a second time. Your friend and that aboatia, though, will drown soon,” Tano says, unfazed, as if he’s giving a presentation on dolphins at SeaWorld.

Read more on Literature

“Mermaids!” she cried, but it was only a pod of dolphins, balanced upright on their tails.

Read more on Literature

The analysis used autopsy data from seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, and dolphins, collected worldwide.

Read more on BBC

She hadn’t worked with dolphins previously but got the chance during a weeklong internship at Dolphin Quest that the college facilitated during her second year.

Read more on Los Angeles Times