Meaning & use
baleen whale
Last updated
UK/bəˈliːn ˌweɪl/
US/bəˈliːn ˌweɪl/
Meaning
nouncountablebiology
A large whale that strains tiny food from the water through flexible plates in its mouth, rather than hunting with teeth.
Grammar: Countable: one baleen whale, many baleen whales.
Patterns
- a baleen whale feeding
The blue whale is the largest baleen whale.
A baleen whale gulps water and strains out krill.
Baleen whales migrate thousands of miles each year.
Word forms
| plural | baleen whales |
|---|
Common combinations
- filter-feeding baleen whale
- A filter-feeding baleen whale swam past the boat.
- baleen whale species
- Several baleen whale species visit the bay.
- baleen whale migration
- Baleen whale migration peaks in spring.
- baleen whale calf
- A baleen whale calf stayed close to its mother.
Synonyms and how they differ
- mysticete
- Mysticete is the scientific term, while baleen whale is the everyday name.
- great whale
- Great whale is an older term that can include some toothed species.
Opposites
toothed whale
Word family
Commonly confused: baleen whale or toothed whale?
baleen whale vs toothed whale
Toothed whales, such as dolphins and sperm whales, hunt larger prey with teeth.
Practice
Which feature identifies a baleen whale?
Choose one answer.
Baleen whales filter small food through baleen plates. They have no sharp hunting teeth, shells or gills.
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