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Dictionary

whale

Pronunciation: (hwāl, wāl), [key]
—n., pl. whales, (esp. collectively) whale,
—v., whaled, whal•ing.

—n.
1. any of the larger marine mammals of the order Cetacea, esp. as distinguished from the smaller dolphins and porpoises, having a fishlike body, forelimbs modified into flippers, and a head that is horizontally flattened.
2. Informal.something big, great, or fine of its kind: I had a whale of a time in Europe.
3. (cap.) Astron.the constellation Cetus.

—v.i.
to engage in whaling or whale fishing.