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.
Such fieldwork will be difficult to carry out, since orca hunts are rare and expensive to monitor.
From Science Daily • Nov. 3, 2025
There have also been several orca deaths there in the last few years.
From BBC • Jan. 5, 2025
On Monday researchers observed a new young orca swimming with the J pod, which they named J62.
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
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.
