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baleen Definition

ba·leen (bə lēn′)

noun

the horny, elastic plates that hang down in fringed, parallel columns from the upper jaw or palate of baleen whales and serve as a strainer that catches plankton while a whale is feeding

Etymology: ME & OFr baleine < L ballaena < Gr phallaina, whale < phallos (see phallus): so named from the shape of the whale

baleen Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • have: Rorqual whales such as the fin and minke whales have much shorter, firmer baleen and feed by gulping.

Modifies a noun

  • whale: They are a vital part of nearly all marine food webs, being eaten by many animals from seabirds to baleen whales.
  • plate: The baleen plates of a blue whale may be up to 1 meter long.

Browse dictionary entries near baleen

  1. ‹ Balearic Islands
  2. ‹ Baleares
  3. ‹ bale
  4. ‹ baldy
  5. ‹ Baldwin Park
  6. ‹ Baldwin
  7. ‹ baldric
  8. ‹ baldpate
  9. ‹ baldness
  10. ‹ balding
  1. baleen whale ›
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