whale shark

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noun

a tropical shark, Rhincodon typus, ranging in size from 30 to 60 feet (9 to 18 meters), having small teeth and a sievelike structure over its gills for catching plankton.

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Origin of whale shark

First recorded in 1880–85

Words nearby whale shark

whale of a time, whale oil, whaler, whaler shark, Whales, whale shark, whalesucker, whaling, whaling port, wham, whammo

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use whale shark in a sentence

Porter was convicted and shortly after sentenced to death by a judge who compared him to a shark in a feeding frenzy.
Wrongly Imprisoned for 15 Years Thanks to an Innocence Project|Jacob Siegel|November 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Her downfall came about, because for a second she forgot that to swim in the shark pool, you have to always act like a shark.
‘Housewife Tycoon’ Took On ‘Mad Men’ NYC Real Estate Market and Won|Vicky Ward|October 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For humans, Shark Week is just a once-a-year sweeps event for the Discovery Channel.
Shark Deathmatch, Crazy ‘Simpsons’ Couch Gag, and More Viral Videos|Alex Chancey|October 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
However, for sharks—and Tracy Jordan—every week is Shark Week.
Shark Deathmatch, Crazy ‘Simpsons’ Couch Gag, and More Viral Videos|Alex Chancey|October 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Worse, she obsesses over this with all of the friends and then tries to incorporate shark imagery into their sex life.
15 Times ‘Friends’ Was Really, Really Weird|Kevin Fallon|September 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A Naval Officer who has seen her says she is lying in shallow water—6 fathoms—bottom upwards looking like a stranded whale.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
A shark was also taken, eleven feet long; and many curious specimens of crustacea and medusa were obtained by the towing-net.
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia] [Volume 2 of 2]|Phillip Parker King
He was experienced in the North Atlantic trade, in seal, whale and cod fishing and other Newfoundland industries.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
Fish scales cover the walls, and everywhere there is a smell as if one were in the belly of a whale.
Skipper Worse|Alexander Lange Kielland
I've seen pictures of an excited whale turning a boat full of men over.
You Never Know Your Luck, Complete|Gilbert Parker

British Dictionary definitions for whale shark

whale shark

noun

a large spotted whalelike shark, Rhincodon typus, of warm seas, that feeds on plankton and small animals: family Rhincodontidae

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