Definition of dolphin Dolphin

/dɑˈlfʌn/ - [dalfun] - Dol•phin

We found 27 definitions of dolphin from 9 different sources.

What does dolphin mean?

WordNet

Noun Plural: dolphins
dolphin - any of various small toothed whales with a beaklike snout; larger than porpoises
		toothed whale any of several whales having simple conical teeth and feeding on fish etc.
		delphinidae, family delphinidae dolphins
		common dolphin, delphinus delphis black-and-white dolphin that leaps high out of the water;
		bottle-nosed dolphin, bottlenose dolphin, bottlenose any of several dolphins with rounded forehead and well-developed beak; chiefly of northern Atlantic and Mediterranean
		porpoise any of several small gregarious cetacean mammals having a blunt snout and many teeth
		grampus griseus, grampus slaty-grey blunt-nosed dolphin common in northern seas
		killer whale, orca, orcinus orca, sea wolf, grampus, killer predatory black-and-white toothed whale with large dorsal fin; common in cold seas
		common blackfish, globicephala melaena, pilot whale, black whale, blackfish small dark-colored whale of the Atlantic coast of the United States; the largest male acts as pilot or leader for the school
		river dolphin any of several long-snouted usually freshwater dolphins of South America and southern Asia
dolphin - large slender food and game fish widely distributed in warm seas (especially around Hawaii)
		dolphinfish, mahimahi
		percoid, percoid fish, percoidean any of numerous spiny-finned fishes of the order Perciformes
		coryphaenidae, family coryphaenidae large active pelagic percoid fish
		aloha state, hawai'i, hawaii, hi a state in the United States in the central Pacific on the Hawaiian Islands
		coryphaena hippurus the more common dolphinfish valued as food; about six feet long
		coryphaena equisetis a kind of dolphinfish

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Wiktionary

dolphin (Noun)
A carnivorous aquatic mammal inhabiting mostly in the shallower seas of the continental continental shelves , famed for its intelligence and occasional willingness to approach humans.
dolphin (Noun)
A fish, the mahi-mahi or dorado, Coryphaena hippurus , with a dorsal fin that runs the length of the body, also known for iridescent coloration.
dolphin (Noun)
The dauphin, eldest son of the kings of France.
dolphin (Noun)
A mass of iron or lead hung from the yardarm, in readiness to be dropped through the deck and the hull of an enemy's vessel to sink it.
dolphin (Noun)
A kind of wreath or strap of plaited cordage.
dolphin (Noun)
A spar or buoy held by an anchor and furnished with a ring to which ships may fasten their cables.
dolphin (Noun)
A mooring post on a wharf or beach.
dolphin (Noun)
A permanent fender around a heavy boat just below the gunwale.
dolphin (Noun)
One of the handles above the trunnions by which a gun was lifted.
dolphin (Noun)
A man-made semi submerged maritime structure, usually installed to provide a fixed structure for temporary mooring, to prevent ships from drifting to shallow water or to serve as base for navigational aids.

Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘

dolphin (n.)
A cetacean of the genus Delphinus and allied genera (esp. D. delphis); the true dolphin.
dolphin (n.)
The Coryphaena hippuris, a fish of about five feet in length, celebrated for its surprising changes of color when dying. It is the fish commonly known as the dolphin. See Coryphaenoid.
dolphin (n.)
A mass of iron or lead hung from the yardarm, in readiness to be dropped on the deck of an enemy's vessel.
dolphin (n.)
A kind of wreath or strap of plaited cordage.
dolphin (n.)
A spar or buoy held by an anchor and furnished with a ring to which ships may fasten their cables.
dolphin (n.)
A mooring post on a wharf or beach.
dolphin (n.)
A permanent fender around a heavy boat just below the gunwale.
dolphin (n.)
In old ordnance, one of the handles above the trunnions by which the gun was lifted.
dolphin (n.)
A small constellation between Aquila and Pegasus. See Delphinus, n., 2.

OmegaWiki DictionaryOmegaWiki Dictionary Ω

dolphin
A carnivorous aquatic mammal inhabiting mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves.

Chambers DictionaryChamber's 20th Century Dictionary 📕

dolphin
dol′fin, n. an animal of the whale kind, closely resembling the porpoise, about 8 or 10 feet long: the coryphæna, a fish about 5 feet in length, noted for the brilliancy of its colours when dying.—ns. Dol′phinet (Spens.), a female dolphin; Dol′phin-fly, a black aphis or plant-louse, destructive to bean-plants. [O. Fr. daulphin—L. delphinus—Gr. delphis, -phinos.]

Marine DictionaryUniversal Dictionary of the Marine ⚓️

dolphin
of the mast a peculiar kind of wreath, formed of platted cordage, to be fastened occasionally round the masts, as a support to the puddening, whose use is to sustain the weight of the fore and main-yards, in case the rigging, or chains, by which those yards are suspended, should be shot away in the time of battle; a circumstance which might render their sails useless at a season when their assistance is extremely necessary. See the article PUDDENING.

Sailor's Word-BookThe Sailor's Word-Book ⛵

dolphin
Naturalists understand by this word numerous species of small cetaceous animals of the genus Delphinus, found in nearly all seas. They greatly resemble porpoises, and are often called by this name by sailors; but they are distinguished by having a longer and more slender snout. The word is also generally, but less correctly, applied to a fish, the dorado (Coryphæna hippuris), celebrated for the changing hues of its surface when dying. Also, a small light ancient boat, which gave rise to Pliny's story of the boy going daily to school across the Lucrine lake on a dolphin. Also, in ordnance, especially brass guns, two handles nearly over the trunnions for lifting the guns by. Also, a French gold coin (dauphine), formerly in great currency. Also, a stout post on a quay-head, or in a beach, to make hawsers fast to. The name is also given to a spar or block of wood, with a ring-bolt at each end, through which a hawser can be rove, for vessels to ride by; the same as wooden buoys.

Wikipedia

Dolphins are mammals of the order "Cetacea". They are animals that usually live in salt water, like the sea, but certain species can live in rivers.

The name "dolphin" is used for oceanic dolphins and river dolphins. But oceanic dolphins and river dolphins are not directly related.

Their name, dolphin, comes from the Ancient Greek δελφίς ("delphis") meaning "with a womb", because it was first thought to be a fish with a womb. It is now known to be very different from fish, because it breathes air and has warm blood, like all other mammals. They are believed to be very smart. Due to how smart they are, which is almost as smart as a human, they have been used by the navy for jobs under the sea.

Habitat.

Oceanic dolphins are marine animals living in the sea. They live in all of the oceans.

Three of the four species of river dolphins live in fresh water rivers. The La Plata Dolphin lives in saltwater estuaries and the ocean.

Water pollution and the loss of habitat are a threat to some dolphins, especially those living in rivers and estuaries.

Other.

The brain of a dolphin is like a human brain in size and development. Dolphins have good eyesight. They can watch a thing in the water, and they can see colors, too. They can also see in dark places. Dolphins breathe air. Their nose on top of the head to be easy to breathe on the surface of the water. A dolphin's hearing is better than their sight.　 There are some small holes behind the eyes, and they are the ears of a dolphin. Dolphi