dolphin Hear it!

dolphin Definition

dol·phin (däl′fin, dôl′-)

noun

  1. any of two widespread families (Platanistidae and Delphinidae) of toothed whales having high levels of intelligence and usually a beaklike snout
  2. any of a percoid family (Coryphaenidae) of marine game fishes with colors that brighten and change when the fish is taken out of the water
  3. Naut. a buoy, pile, or, esp., a cluster of piles for mooring a vessel

Etymology: ME dolfin < OFr dalphin < VL dalfinus, for L delphinus < Gr delphinos, gen. of delphis (< IE base *gwelbh-): so named from its shape

dolphin Idioms

the Dolphin

the constellation Delphinus

dolphin Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • strand: The Coastguard had reported a stranded dolphin in Berwick on Tweed, right on the Scottish boarder.
  • leap: The University logo - the leaping dolphin - was introduced in November 1990.
  • nose: Bottle nosed dolphins and minke whales are other late summer visitors.
  • kill: Dolphins are my favorite animal and if you kill dolphins you are very sick minded and rude!
  • spot: In the summer, the sun sets over the harbor and you can spot dolphins jumping out of the water.

Adjective modifier

  • bottlenose: Jo also had a brief affair with Donald, a bottlenose dolphin who adopted the Isle of Man for three years.
  • white-beaked: The two exceptions, Risso's dolphin and white-beaked dolphin, were observed over the continental shelf, northwest of the Isle of Lewis.
  • bottle-nosed: I also saw a few groups of bottle-nosed dolphins.
  • white-sided: Other species seen, tho less regularly, in recent years include white-sided dolphin, common dolphin, sperm whale and pilot whale.
  • bottlenosed: The bay also is home to many of Britain's wildlife species including all bat species, migrating seabirds and bottlenosed dolphins.
  • striped: The western Mediterranean population of the striped dolphin is included on Appendix II of the Bonn Convention.

Modifies a noun

  • watching: Short Break Tours include 3 days whale and dolphin watching.
  • sighting: In 2002, we had our best season for whale & dolphin sightings.
  • encounter: Planet Ocean Charters Visiting the Keys Plan your adventures with us Our dolphin encounters will be your most memorable experience.

Noun used with modifier

  • bottlenose: Each year, bottlenose dolphins migrate along the English Channel from west to east.
  • miami: Just look around and miami dolphins getting to the second level, and he could have problems playing left tackle.
  • spinner: It also has direct access to a beach where a school of spinner dolphins regularly drops by.
  • humpback: The specially-trained and equipped team hopes to safely capture the female humpback dolphin which has a tight nylon noose around its tail.
  • freshwater: Freshwater dolphins can be found in the Mekong river.
  • river: At the same time in China, attempts are being made to save another porpoise, a very rare river dolphin.