What does ORCA mean?
Definitions for ORCA
ˈɔr kəor·ca
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word ORCA.
Princeton's WordNet
killer whale, killer, orca, grampus, sea wolf, Orcinus orcanoun
predatory black-and-white toothed whale with large dorsal fin; common in cold seas
GCIDE
Orcanoun
The killer whale (Orcinus orca).
Wiktionary
orcanoun
A sea mammal (scientific name: Orcinus orca) related to dolphins and porpoises, commonly called the killer whale.
Etymology: From orca.
Wikipedia
Orca
The orca or killer whale (Orcinus orca) is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family, of which it is the largest member. It is the only extant species in the genus Orcinus and is recognizable by its black-and-white patterned body. A cosmopolitan species, orcas can be found in all of the world's oceans in a variety of marine environments, from Arctic and Antarctic regions to tropical seas. Orcas have a diverse diet, although individual populations often specialize in particular types of prey. Some feed exclusively on fish, while others hunt marine mammals such as seals and other species of dolphin. They have been known to attack baleen whale calves, and even adult whales. Orcas are apex predators, as they have no natural predators. They are highly social; some populations are composed of very stable matrilineal family groups (pods) which are the most stable of any animal species. Their sophisticated hunting techniques and vocal behaviours, which are often specific to a particular group and passed across generations, have been described as manifestations of animal culture. The International Union for Conservation of Nature assesses the orca's conservation status as data deficient because of the likelihood that two or more orca types are separate species. Some local populations are considered threatened or endangered due to prey depletion, habitat loss, pollution (by PCBs), capture for marine mammal parks, and conflicts with human fisheries. In late 2005, the southern resident orcas, which swim in British Columbia and Washington waters, were placed on the U.S. Endangered Species list. Wild orcas are not considered a threat to humans, and no fatal attack on humans has ever been documented. There have been cases of captive orcas killing or injuring their handlers at marine theme parks. Orcas feature strongly in the mythologies of indigenous cultures, and their reputation in different cultures ranges from being the souls of humans to merciless killers.
ChatGPT
orca
An orca, also known as a killer whale, is a large, predatory marine mammal that belongs to the dolphin family. It is known for its black and white coloration and its powerful, streamlined body. Orcas are highly intelligent and sociable, often living in family groups called pods. They are known to be apex predators, meaning they have no natural predators and feed on a variety of prey such as fish, seals, and even other whales.
Dictionary of Nautical Terms
orca
A classical name for a large voracious sea-animal, probably a grampus. Anglicized as ork or orc; thus in the second song of Drayton's strange Polyolbion-- "The ugly orks, that for their lord the ocean woo." And Milton afterwards introduces them— "An island salt and bare, The haunt of seals and orcs, and sea-mews clang."
Editors Contribution
orca
A type of whale.
Orca are found in all oceans, from Arctic and Antarctic regions to tropical seas across the planet.
Submitted by MaryC on February 6, 2016
Suggested Resources
orca
Song lyrics by orca -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by orca on the Lyrics.com website.
ORCA
What does ORCA stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the ORCA acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.
Matched Categories
Anagrams for ORCA »
arco
Caro
Cora
ocra
acor
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of ORCA in Chaldean Numerology is: 4
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of ORCA in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1
Examples of ORCA in a Sentence
We heard there was a beached killer whale so we went to go find it. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration gave permission to keep the orca wet and protected from animals until they could arrive, we were working on getting a hose and pump to work. In the meantime, we used buckets to keep the orca wet. The orca started getting more lively after we put water on it.
An end to SeaWorld's tawdry and circus-style performance is inevitable, but it's actually captivity that denies these far-ranging orca the opportunity to engage in behaviors that are natural and important to them.
While we cannot explain the reason for her behavior, the juxtaposition of a previously-wild orca against the stark backdrop of the park’s performance area is unsettling, to say the least.
I've seen some incredible things working with the Dyer Island Conservation Trust, butone thing I never ever expected to see was predation pressure from killer whales, we had never even seen an Orca here prior to 2011.
Los Angeles-based director Cowperthwaite:
This is a defining moment. The fact that SeaWorld is doing away with orca breeding marks truly meaningful change.
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Translations for ORCA
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- حوت قاتلArabic
- косаткаBulgarian
- orcaCatalan, Valencian
- kosatkaCzech
- spækhuggerDanish
- Schwertwal, Killerwal, MörderwalGerman
- orcaSpanish
- ارکاPersian
- miekkavalasFinnish
- steyrhvalur, bóghvítuhvalur, mastrarfiskur, mastrarhvalur, æðuhvalur, rovhvalurFaroese
- épaulard, orqueFrench
- cana, mada-chuainScottish Gaelic
- kardszárnyú delfinHungarian
- seguniIndonesian
- háhyrningurIcelandic
- orcaItalian
- אורקהHebrew
- 鯱, さかまたJapanese
- 범고래Korean
- orcaLatin
- makiMāori
- косаткаMacedonian
- orka, zwaardwalvisDutch
- spekkhogger, orcaNorwegian
- OrcaPolish
- orcaPortuguese
- orcaRomanian
- касатка, косатка, кит-уби́йцаRussian
- kosatkaSlovak
- späckhuggareSwedish
- katil balinaTurkish
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