whitetip shark

noun

white·tip shark ˈ(h)wīt-ˌtip-

variants or less commonly white-tip shark or whitetip or white-tipped shark

ˈ(h)wīt-ˌtipt-

plural whitetip sharks also white-tip sharks or white-tipped sharks

: oceanic whitetip shark

A French tourist … was attacked by a whitetip shark off the Pacific islands of Polynesia.—

Scottish Daily Record and Sunday Mail

: whitetip reef shark

Located roughly 22 miles offshore, the 262-foot-long ship sank in 1981, due to a fire on board. Today, it attracts barracuda, giant batfish and, occasionally, white-tip sharks—a type of small reef shark.—

Kate Springer

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler

The first known use of whitetip shark was in 1940

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Whitetip shark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whitetip%20shark. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation