beluga

noun

be·​lu·​ga bə-ˈlü-gə 

1

: a large white sturgeon (Huso huso) of the Black Sea, Caspian Sea, and their tributaries

also : caviar processed from beluga roe compare osetra, sevruga

2

[Russian belukha, from belyĭ] : a toothed whale (Delphinapterus leucas) of arctic and subarctic waters having a fusiform body that is about 10 to 15 feet (3.0 to 5.0 meters) long and white when mature

called also white whale

Illustration of beluga

• beluga 2

Examples of beluga in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Unlike many other whales, such as orcas and blue whales, belugas have no dorsal fin. —Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 13 Dec. 2024

The melon is a protrusion on a beluga’s forehead, made up of fatty tissue and muscle. —Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 13 Dec. 2024

The organization is backed by entities like Linkedin cofounder Reid Hoffman and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and is building a model that analyzes patterns in vocalizations of animals like beluga, crows and zebra finches. —Rashi Shrivastava, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024

Along the rugged coasts there are blue-white expanses of towering icebergs, and the water itself is home to polar bears, beluga and humpback whales, seals, and walrus. —Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 16 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Russian, from belyĭ white; akin to Greek phalios having a white spot — more at bald

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

beluga

noun

be·​lu·​ga bə-ˈlü-gə 

: a toothed whale that becomes 10 to 15 feet (3.0 to 5.0 meters) long and white when adult

called also beluga whale

Etymology

from earlier beluga "a white sturgeon," from Russian beluga (same meaning), from belyǐ "white"