Cetacea

plural noun

Ce·​ta·​cea
sēˈtāshēə
: an order of completely aquatic mostly marine eutherian mammals consisting of the whales, dolphins, porpoises, and related forms, all having a very large head, a tapering body like a fish and nearly devoid of hair, forelimbs like paddles, no hind limbs, a tail ending in a broad horizontal fin, a large brain, a complex stomach of four or more chambers, and two mammae posterior in position

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from neuter plural of cetaceus cetaceous

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Cite this Entry

“Cetacea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Cetacea. Accessed 13 Nov. 2024.

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