Definition of dolphin in English:
dolphin
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noun
1A small gregarious toothed whale that typically has a beaklike snout and a curved fin on the back. Dolphins have become well known for their sociable nature and high intelligence.
Families Delphinidae (marine) and Platanistidae (the river dolphins): several genera and many species
‘No captures of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins have occurred in the US since 1989.’- ‘And captive bottlenose dolphins have shown themselves to be skilled at replicating computer-generated sounds.’
- ‘We passed numerous sting rays gliding along, then a large school of spinner dolphins leaping across our bow.’
- ‘Common dolphins are sociable animals and entire shoals - averaging five individuals - frequently die together.’
- ‘I saw a gray dolphin swimming alone, like a man in a serious suit.’
- ‘A group of children saw dolphins swimming by.’
- ‘Wild dolphins off the west coast of Australia were the first marine mammals in which cultural learning was observed.’
- ‘In the State of Victoria it is illegal to feed wild dolphins.’
- ‘In Australia it is illegal to feed wild dolphins or for a swimmer to approach within thirty metres of them.’
- ‘Some Atlantic humpback dolphin populations are known only by a single specimen.’
- ‘Spotted and spinner dolphins inhabit tropical seas around the world along with yellowfin tuna.’
- ‘She pointed to the ocean and he looked and they saw dolphins jumping by the side of the ship.’
- ‘When curious dolphins swim around the boat, the team launches an inflatable boat.’
- ‘I think of trawlers catching dolphins in their nets.’
- ‘The former group also gave rise to various endemic lines of river dolphins.’
- ‘A dolphin leapt from the water, the drops of water sparkling and glittering.’
- ‘The purpose of the ban as stated in the accompanying documentation is to minimise dolphin mortality.’
- ‘She has also studied baboons in Kenya and dolphins off the coast of western Australia.’
- ‘The villagers say the dolphin population has halved in the past few years.’
- ‘They go to watch sperm whales spout and dive or to swim with pods of dusky dolphins.’
2A bollard, pile, or buoy for mooring boats.
3A structure for protecting the pier of a bridge.
Pronunciation
Origin
Late Middle English from Old French dauphin, from Provençal dalfin, from Latin delphinus, from Greek delphin.
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