elephant seal

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noun

either of two seals of the genus Mirounga, of the Pacific coast of North America and the Antarctic Ocean, having a curved proboscis resembling an elephant's trunk.

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Also called sea elephant.

Origin of elephant seal

First recorded in 1835–45

Words nearby elephant seal

elephantiasis scroti, elephantine, elephant man's disease, elephantoid fever, elephants, elephant seal, elephant's-ear, elephant's-foot, elephant shrew, elephant's-trunk snake, eletriptan hydrobromide

How to use elephant seal in a sentence

September and October are also the best months to see large populations of elephant seals hauling their enormous bodies onto the beaches at Piedra Blancas Light Station.
The 25 Best Fall Trips in the World|jversteegh|August 9, 2021|Outside Online
Crashing surf, a gray whale offshore, a fleet of elephant seals lolling on a beach.
5 of the American West’s Most Iconic Roads|kklein|August 8, 2021|Outside Online
Then, using a device called a respirometer, researchers measured otter muscle cells’ respiratory capacity in different states of oxygen flow compared with other animals — including humans, Iditarod sled dogs and elephant seals.
Sea otters stay warm thanks to leaky mitochondria in their muscles|Jaime Chambers|July 8, 2021|Science News
It’s home to elephant seals, bobcats, otters, owls, and over 100 rare, threatened, or endangered species of animals and plants.
Yvon Chouinard Says We Need to Protect Point Reyes|Yvon Chouinard|May 13, 2021|Outside Online

Hoskins noted that northern elephant seals exhale before diving deep.
Readers ask about Cuvier’s beaked whales, microbes in the atmosphere and more|Science News Staff|January 10, 2021|Science News
Fellow SEAL Matt Bissonnette also claims to have shot bin Laden.
Exclusive: Bin Laden ‘Shooter’ Under Investigation for Leaking Secrets|Shane Harris|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Vreeland believes that in the end, his grandmother put her subtle seal of approval on his lifestyle.
From Fashion Player to Photographer Monk|Nina Strochlic|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Marcel the elephant takes readers on a journey through his life, recounting his memories full of travel and adventure.
The Daily Beast’s 2014 Holiday Gift Guide: For the Blue Ivy in Your Life|Allison McNearney|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Simultaneously, a brigade of mercenaries and Congolese soldiers would seal off the city and expel the guerrillas.
‘Argo’ in the Congo: The Ghosts of the Stanleyville Hostage Crisis|Nina Strochlic|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Now the lead breacher explained how he cut through the steel doors bin Laden used to seal himself into the compound at night.
I Shot Bin Laden|Elliot Ackerman|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In truth, it was so intently engaged with a sleeping seal that it had not observed the approach of the sledge.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne
With this I will end this letter, leaving it in this state until it is time to seal it, in case anything should occur to be added.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
On breaking the seal, a letter at the top of a bundle of papers presented itself.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
The female elephant killed by our hunters at this time was a comparatively small one.
Hunting the Lions|R.M. Ballantyne
The elephant ran straight on and went right through the whole party, but came near no one.
Hunting the Lions|R.M. Ballantyne

British Dictionary definitions for elephant seal

elephant seal

noun

either of two large earless seals, Mirounga leonina of southern oceans or M. angustirostris of the N Atlantic, the males of which have a long trunklike snout

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012