whitetip shark

noun

white·​tip shark ˈ(h)wīt-ˌtip- How to pronounce whitetip shark (audio)
variants or less commonly white-tip shark or whitetip or white-tipped shark
plural whitetip sharks also white-tip sharks or white-tipped sharks
1
: oceanic whitetip shark
A French tourist … was attacked by a whitetip shark off the Pacific islands of Polynesia.Scottish Daily Record and Sunday Mail
2
: whitetip reef shark
Located roughly 22 miles offshore, the 262-foot-long ship sank in 1981, due to a fire on board. Today, it attracts barracuda, giant batfish and, occasionally, white-tip sharks—a type of small reef shark.Kate Springer

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of whitetip shark was in 1940

Dictionary Entries Near whitetip shark

Cite this Entry

“Whitetip shark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whitetip%20shark. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

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