whale

A very large animal that lives in the sea, breathes air, and feeds its young with milk.

• We saw a whale from the boat.
• Whales come to the surface to breathe.
• A blue whale can grow very large.

Common phrases: blue whale, humpback whale, whale watching

Any animal in the sea mammal group that includes large whales, dolphins, and porpoises.

• In this classification, a dolphin is a whale.
• Toothed whales include porpoises and dolphins.
• Scientists group these whale species by their ancestry.

Similar words: cetacean

Common phrases: toothed whale, whale species, whale family

To hunt large sea mammals for their oil, meat, or other products.

• The crew whaled in northern waters.
• Those ships used to whale for oil.
• They no longer whale commercially.

Common phrases: whale commercially, whale offshore, whale for oil

To hit someone or something hard many times.

• He whaled on the bag.
• The attacker whaled on him with both fists.
• She was whaling on the stuck door with a hammer.

How to use it: whale on someone/something (He began to whale on the punching bag.)

Similar words: beat, pound, thrash

Common phrases: whale on someone, whale on something