toothed whale

noun

ˈtütht- How to pronounce toothed whale (audio)
ˈtü-thəd-
: any of a suborder (Odontoceti) of cetaceans (such as a dolphin, porpoise, or killer whale) bearing usually numerous simple conical teeth compare baleen whale

Examples of toothed whale in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The scientists compared the lifespans of 32 toothed whale species. Fox News, 15 Mar. 2024 Like humans, a handful of toothed whales go through menopause—and new research suggests the trait could have evolved for similar reasons across species. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Mar. 2024 According to the state’s website, sperm whales are the largest toothed whale species, with females growing up to 36 feet long and males up to 52 feet. Sarah Dewberry, CNN, 10 Mar. 2024 But since there are two main types of whales — toothed whales and baleen whales — experts think that different whales have long been using sound in slightly different ways. Sofia Quaglia, Discover Magazine, 27 Dec. 2023 Only six species of animals—humans and five species of toothed whales—are known to experience menopause. Melissa Breyer, Treehugger, 20 July 2023 Still, in the end, the massive sperm whale — the largest living member of the toothed whale genus — usually wins. Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 3 July 2023 Sperm whales – the largest species of toothed whales – are considered endangered, according to NOAA Fisheries, with roughly 2,000 whales estimated to live off the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington. Li Cohen, CBS News, 13 June 2023 Their cousins the toothed whales—sperm whales, belugas, dolphins, and the like—use ultrasonic sonar signals to detect prey, but baleen whales don't have that ability. Kate Wong, Scientific American, 13 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'toothed whale.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of toothed whale was in 1843

Dictionary Entries Near toothed whale

Cite this Entry

“Toothed whale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toothed%20whale. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

toothed whale

noun
: any of a group of whales, dolphins, and porpoises with numerous sharp cone-shaped teeth compare baleen whale

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