killer whale

killer whale
Killer Kill"er, n. 1. One who deprives of life; one who, or that which, kills. [1913 Webster]

2. (Zo["o]l.) A voracious, toothed whale of the genus {Orca}, of which several species are known; called also {killer whale}. [1913 Webster]

Note: The killers have a high dorsal fin, and powerful jaws armed with large, sharp teeth. They capture, and swallow entire, large numbers of seals, porpoises, and dolphins, and are celebrated for their savage, combined attacks upon the right whales, which they are said to mutilate and kill. The common Atlantic species ({Orca gladiator}), is found both on the European and the American coast. Two species ({Orca ater} and {Orca rectipinna}) occur on the Pacific coast. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Killer whale — Kill er whale , n. see {killer[2]}. [PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • killer whale — killer whales N COUNT A killer whale is a type of black and white whale …   English dictionary

  • killer whale — n a black and white ↑whale that eats meat …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • killer whale — ► NOUN ▪ a large toothed whale with distinctive black and white markings and a prominent dorsal fin …   English terms dictionary

  • killer whale — n. a very large, mostly black dolphin (Orcinus orca) with white patches, that hunts in large packs and preys on large fish, seals, and whales …   English World dictionary

  • Killer whale — Orca redirects here. For other uses, see Orca (disambiguation). Killer whale[1] …   Wikipedia

  • killer whale — any of several predatory dolphins, esp. the black and white Orcinus orca, found in all seas. [1880 85] * * * or orca A species (Orcinus orca) of toothed whale found in all seas from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Largest of the dolphins, the male… …   Universalium

  • killer whale — noun predatory black and white toothed whale with large dorsal fin; common in cold seas • Syn: ↑killer, ↑orca, ↑grampus, ↑sea wolf, ↑Orcinus orca • Hypernyms: ↑dolphin • Member Holonyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • killer whale — daugiapelekis delfinas statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Orcinus orca angl. common killer whale; killer whale; orca; sword fish; sword grampus vok. Mörderdelphin; Schwertwal rus. косатка pranc. orque;… …   Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas

  • Killer whale attacks on humans — Killer whales (or orcas) are powerful predators capable of dispatching prey much larger than humans, such as leopard seals and great white sharks. They have also been recorded preying on usually terrestrial species such as moose swimming between… …   Wikipedia

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