First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1whale
noun, often attributive \ˈhwāl, ˈwāl\
: an often very large animal that lives in the ocean and that is a mammal rather than a fish
: something that is very big, important, good, etc.
plural whales
Full Definition of WHALE
1
or plural whale : cetacean; especially : one (as a sperm whale or killer whale) of larger size
2
: one that is impressive especially in size <a whale of a difference> <a whale of a good time>
— whale·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective
See whale defined for English-language learners
See whale defined for kids
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Origin of WHALE
Middle English, from Old English hwæl; akin to Old High German hwal whale and perhaps to Latin squalus sea fish
Related to WHALE
Rhymes with WHALE
2whale
verb
whaledwhal·ing
Definition of WHALE
intransitive verb
: to engage in whale fishing
First Known Use of WHALE
1700
3whale
verb
whaledwhal·ing
Definition of WHALE
transitive verb
2
: to strike or hit vigorously
3
: to defeat soundly
Origin of WHALE
origin unknown
First Known Use: circa 1790
WHALE[1] Defined for Kids
1whale
noun \ˈhwāl, ˈwāl\
Definition of WHALE for Kids
: a very large sea mammal that has flippers and a flattened tail and breathes through an opening on the top of the head
2whale
verb
whaledwhal·ing
Definition of WHALE for Kids
: to hunt whales
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