whale

noun pl. whales or whale

any member of either of two orders (Mysticeta and Odontoceta) of aquatic mammals that breathe air, bear live young, and have front limbs that have been modified into flippers, and a flat, horizontal tail
any of the larger members of these two groups, excluding the porpoises and dolphins (except for the killer whale)

intransitive verb whaled, whaling

to engage in the work of hunting whales

transitive verb whaled, whaling

Informal to beat; whip; thrash

See whale in American Heritage Dictionary 4