blowhole

noun

blow·​hole ˈblō-ˌhōl 

plural blowholes

1

: a hole in metal caused by a bubble of gas captured during solidification

2

: a nostril in the top of the head of a cetacean and especially a whale

3

: a hole or fissure in rocks along a shore through which incoming waves force air to rush upward or water to spout intermittently

The blowhole is in a place where ocean waves marching in from the north have undercut a lava shelf and carved a tire-sized hole so that surf can spout up like a Yellowstone geyser.

—Brian J. Cantwell

Examples of blowhole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Footage obtained by Fox News shows the whale spouting out of its blowhole just below the historic bridge at sunset. —Andrea Margolis, Fox News, 27 Nov. 2024

Did the sounds of a dolphin hole or whale blowhole make it into the mix? —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2024

The study team held up petri dishes to the mammals’ blowhole, through which dolphins inhale and exhale. —Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 17 Oct. 2024

In a video posted by the company, the whales can be seen surfacing and spouting mist from their blowholes before sinking back into the water. —Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 26 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1691, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

blowhole

noun

blow·​hole -ˌhōl 

1

: a nostril in the top of the head of a whale or related animal

2

: a hole in the ice to which aquatic mammals (as seals) come to breathe