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sperm whale
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noun
a large, square-snouted whale, Physeter catodon, valued for its oil and spermaceti: now reduced in number and rare in some areas.
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known asâŠ
Origin of sperm whale
First recorded in 1825â35
Words nearby sperm whale
spermophyte, spermotoxic, spermotoxin, spermous, sperm washing, sperm whale, Sperrin Mountains, Sperry, sperrylite, spessartite, speug
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use sperm whale in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for sperm whale
sperm whale
noun
a large toothed whale, Physeter catodon, having a square-shaped head and hunted for sperm oil, spermaceti, and ambergris: family PhyseteridaeAlso called: cachalot
Word Origin for sperm whale
C19: short for spermaceti whale
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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