odontocete

American  

[oh-don-tuh-seet] / oʊˈdɒn təˌsit /

noun

Zoology.

1. any whale of the suborder Odontoceti, as dolphins, killer whales, and sperm whales, characterized by an asymmetrical skull, a single blowhole, and rows of teeth, feeding primarily on fish, squid, and crustaceans.

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Etymology

Origin of odontocete

1880–85; < New Latin Odontoceti, equivalent to odonto- odonto- + ceti, plural of cetus whale, Latin cētus < Greek kêtos

Example Sentences

Phoc�′na, a genus of delphinoid odontocete cetaceans—the true porpoises.—adjs.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various

Monodon, mon′ō-don, n. a genus of delphinoid odontocete cetaceans, containing only the narwhal.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various