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whale shark
noun
: a shark (Rhincodon typus) of warm waters that has small teeth, feeds chiefly on plankton strained by its gill rakers, may sometimes attain a length of up to 60 feet (18.3 meters), and is the largest known fish
Examples of whale shark in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
However, the presence of industrial infrastructure is not without risks for whale sharks.
—Melissa Cristina Marquez, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
The orcas appear to be targeting the whale sharks’ ventral side–the area near their bellies.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 25 Dec. 2024
By attacking them from below, the orcas avoid the whale sharks' tough dorsal skin that has denticles embedded on the outside, with thick connective tissue beneath it.
—New Atlas, 29 Nov. 2024
Pre-copulatory behaviours of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
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Word History
First Known Use
circa 1885, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near whale shark
Cite this Entry
“Whale shark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whale%20shark. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.
Kids Definition
whale shark
noun
: a harmless shark of warm waters that feeds chiefly on plankton, may sometimes grow to a length of up to 60 feet (18.3 meters), and is the largest known fish
More from Merriam-Webster on whale shark
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about whale shark
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