phocine

American

[foh-sahyn, -sin] / ˈfoʊ saɪn, -sɪn /

adjective

Zoology.

of or relating to seals.

phocine British

/ ˈfəʊsaɪn /

adjective

of, relating to, or resembling a seal
of, relating to, or belonging to the Phocinae, a subfamily that includes the harbour seal and grey seal

"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

Etymology

Origin of phocine

1840–50; < Latin phōc ( a ) seal (< Greek phṓkē ) + -ine ¹

Vocabulary lists containing phocine

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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.

Feds attributed those deaths to phocine distemper virus.

From Washington Times • Jul. 5, 2022

They in turn take an interest in the author's phocine connection.

From The Guardian • Jul. 6, 2012

There are many interesting facts connected with these islands and the habits of these phocine kindred, but space is limited.

From Oregon, Washington and Alaska; Sights and Scenes for the Tourist by Lomax, E. L. (Edward Lloyd)

But after all, any phocine ambition, either for extinction or higher evolution, may be an empty thing; because the seal is very comfortable as he is.

From The Strand Magazine, Volume V, Issue 26, February 1893 An Illustrated Monthly by Various

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023