dolphin
[ dol-fin, dawl- ]
/ ˈdɒl fɪn, ˈdɔl- /
noun
any of several chiefly marine, cetacean mammals of the family Delphinidae, having a fishlike body, numerous teeth, and the front of the head elongated into a beaklike projection.
Also called dolphinfish, mahimahi, pompano dolphin.
either of two large, slender fishes, Coryphaena hippurus or C. equisetis, of warm and temperate seas.
Nautical.
- a pile, cluster of piles, or buoy to which a vessel may be moored in open water.
- a cluster of piles used as a fender, as at the entrance to a dock.
- a pudding fender at the nose of a tugboat or on the side of a vessel.
(initial capital letter) Astronomy.
the constellation Delphinus.
Origin of dolphin
1300–50; Middle English
dolphyn < Old French
daulphin < Old Provençal
dalfin < Vulgar Latin
*dalfīnus, Latin
delphīnus < Greek
delphī́n
Words nearby dolphin
doloroso,
dolorous,
dolos,
dolostone,
dolour,
dolphin,
dolphin kick,
dolphin striker,
dolphinarium,
dolphinfish,
dolphy
Example sentences from the Web for dolphin
British Dictionary definitions for dolphin
dolphin
/ (ˈdɒlfɪn) /
noun
any of various marine cetacean mammals of the family Delphinidae, esp Delphinus delphis, that are typically smaller than whales and larger than porpoises and have a beaklike snout
river dolphin
any freshwater cetacean of the family Platanistidae, inhabiting rivers of North and South America and S Asia. They are smaller than marine dolphins and have a longer narrower snout
Also called: dorado
either of two large marine percoid fishes, Coryphaena hippurus or C. equisetis, that resemble the cetacean dolphins and have an iridescent coloration
nautical
a post or buoy for mooring a vessel
Word Origin for dolphin
C13: from Old French
dauphin, via Latin, from Greek
delphin-, delphis