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dolphin Definition

dol·phin (däl′fin, dôl′-)

noun

  1. any of two widespread families (Platanistidae and Delphinidae) of toothed whales having high levels of intelligence and usually a beaklike snout
  2. any of a percoid family (Coryphaenidae) of marine game fishes with colors that brighten and change when the fish is taken out of the water
  3. Naut. a buoy, pile, or, esp., a cluster of piles for mooring a vessel

Etymology: ME dolfin < OFr dalphin < VL dalfinus, for L delphinus < Gr delphinos, gen. of delphis (< IE base *gwelbh-): so named from its shape

dolphin Idioms

the Dolphin

the constellation Delphinus
dolphin Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • nose: Bottle nosed dolphins and minke whales are other late summer visitors.
  • kill: Dolphins are my favorite animal and if you kill dolphins you are very sick minded and rude!
  • spot: In the summer, the sun sets over the harbor and you can spot dolphins jumping out of the water.

Adjective modifier

  • bottle-nosed: I also saw a few groups of bottle-nosed dolphins.
  • bottlenosed: The bay also is home to many of Britain's wildlife species including all bat species, migrating seabirds and bottlenosed dolphins.

Noun used with modifier

  • bottlenose: Each year, bottlenose dolphins migrate along the English Channel from west to east.
  • miami: Just look around and miami dolphins getting to the second level, and he could have problems playing left tackle.
  • spinner: It also has direct access to a beach where a school of spinner dolphins regularly drops by.
  • freshwater: Freshwater dolphins can be found in the Mekong river.

Browse dictionary entries near dolphin

  1. ‹ dolour
  2. ‹ dolorously
  3. ‹ dolorous
  4. ‹ doloroso
  5. ‹ Dolores
  6. ‹ dolor
  7. ‹ Dolomites
  8. ‹ Dolomite Alps
  9. ‹ dolomite
  10. ‹ dolmen
  1. dolphin striker ›
  2. dolt ›
  3. doltish ›
  4. doltishly ›
  5. doltishness ›
  6. Dom ›
  7. Dom Rep ›
  8. -dom ›
  9. domain ›
  10. Domain Internet Groper ›