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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
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There are more than 500 species of sharks in the world’s oceans, from the 7-inch dwarf lantern shark to whale sharks that can grow to over 35 feet long.
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Michael Heithaus, Discover Magazine, 5 Aug. 2024
Tagging manta rays and whale sharks in Indonesia offers immediate gratification.
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Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 6 Aug. 2024
The whale shark, always a fish of extremes, has more than three hundred rows of tiny teeth.
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Katherine Rundell, The New Yorker, 29 July 2024
There are more than five hundred shark species, ranging in size from the whale shark, the ocean’s largest fish, which can grow more than twelve metres in length, to the dwarf lanternshark, which is small enough to rest in your hand.
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Katherine Rundell, The New Yorker, 29 July 2024
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'whale shark.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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 8 Sep. 2024.
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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