sperm whale

noun

ˈspərm- 

: a very large toothed whale (Physeter macrocephalus synonym P. catodon) that has large conical teeth in the lower jaw, a single blowhole, and a massive squarish head with a closed cavity containing a fluid mixture of spermaceti and oil, and that may reach a length in the male of nearly 60 feet (18.3 meters)

Illustration of sperm whale

Examples of sperm whale in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Dolphins in turn are a type of toothed whale, a group that also includes porpoises, beaked whales and sperm whales. —Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 24 May 2024

Seemingly, sperm whales have a lot to communicate about. —Jacek Krywko, Ars Technica, 22 May 2024

Some toothed whales sighted in northeast U.S. waters include pilot whales, common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic white sided dolphins, harbor porpoise and sperm whales. —Kurt Snibbe, Orange County Register, 10 June 2024

But sperm whale scientists like Gero have long wondered what these clicks mean. —Rebecca Ramirez, NPR, 20 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

short for spermaceti whale

First Known Use

circa 1700, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

sperm whale

noun

: a large toothed whale with a large chamber in the skull that contains a fluid mixture of spermaceti and oil