orca
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of orca
First recorded in 1650–60; from New Latin, former taxonomic name, from Latin, a kind of whale, perhaps a grampus, from Greek óryga (accusative of óryx ), a kind of large fish, perhaps a narwhal. The g became c under the influence of Latin orca, a kind of large earthenware vessel with a narrow neck; orc
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The project's team also contains people who were involved in a whale sanctuary that was created to house Keiko – the orca who starred in the 1993 movie Free Willy.
From BBC • Apr. 26, 2025
The appearance of a new orca calf in Washington’s Puget Sound last month was cause for celebration.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 5, 2025
I’ve written about sailors trading tips online over orca attacks and how savvy TikTok marketing revived a restaurant’s business.
From New York Times • Nov. 26, 2024
While the expansion project originates in Canada, an oil spill, like tankers, salmon and orca, heeds no borders.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 4, 2024
As long as you weren’t an orca, they would be your friend instantly.
From "Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody" by Patrick Ness
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
