cetaceous

Variant of cetacean

cetacean definition

ce·ta·cean (sə tā′s̸hən)

noun

in some systems of classification, any of an order (Cetacea) of nearly hairless, fishlike water mammals, lacking external hind limbs, but having paddlelike forelimbs, including whales, porpoises, and dolphins

Etymology: < ModL < L cetus, large sea animal, whale < Gr kētos + -ace(a) + -an

adjective

of the cetaceans
also cetaceous ce·ta′·ceous (-s̸həs)

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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