Illustration of dolphin
- dolphin 1a
1
a
: any of various small marine toothed whales (family Delphinidae) with the snout more or less elongated into a beak and the neck vertebrae partially fused
Note: While not closely related, dolphins and porpoises share a physical resemblance that often leads to misidentification. Dolphins typically have cone-shaped teeth, curved dorsal fins, and elongated beaks with large mouths, while porpoises have flat, spade-shaped teeth, triangular dorsal fins, and shortened beaks with smaller mouths.
b
: any of several related chiefly freshwater toothed whales (as of the families Platanistidae and Iniidae) : river dolphin
2
3
capitalized
: delphinus
4
: a spar or buoy for mooring boats
also
: a cluster of closely driven piles used as a fender for a dock or as a mooring or guide for boats
Examples of dolphin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Other animal sightings that are possible all year long include manta rays, dolphins, turtles, and various marine birds.
—
Zachary Rabinor, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2024
The partial remains of a dolphin had been discovered on the beach at Allen Ave.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
But the dolphin was able to make it over the sandbar and swam back out.
—CBS News, 4 Nov. 2024
Witnesses said the dolphin was able to make it over a sandbar and swam out to sea.
—Antonio Planas, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024
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Zachary Rabinor, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2024
The partial remains of a dolphin had been discovered on the beach at Allen Ave.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
But the dolphin was able to make it over the sandbar and swam back out.
—CBS News, 4 Nov. 2024
Witnesses said the dolphin was able to make it over a sandbar and swam out to sea.
—Antonio Planas, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dolphin
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Cite this Entry
“Dolphin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dolphin. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dolphin
noun
dol·phin
ˈdäl-fən 
ˈdȯl-
1
a
: any of various small whales with teeth and a long nose
b
2
: either of two active saltwater food fishes noted for their brilliant coloring
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