Definitions for Dolphin
ˈdɒl fɪn, ˈdɔl-Dol·phin

Princeton's WordNet(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. dolphinfish, dolphin, mahimahinoun

   large slender food and game fish widely distributed in warm seas (especially around Hawaii)

2. dolphinnoun

   any of various small toothed whales with a beaklike snout; larger than porpoises

GCIDE(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. dolphinnoun

   (Zool.) The Coryph

   Etymology: [F. dauphin dolphin, dauphin, earlier spelt also doffin; cf. OF. dalphinal of the dauphin; fr. L. delphinus, Gr. delfi`s a dolphin (in senses 1, 2, 3, & 6), perh. properly, belly fish; cf. delfy`s womb, Skr. garbha; perh. akin to E. calf. Cf. Dauphin, Delphine.]

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. dolphinnoun

   A carnivorous aquatic mammal inhabiting mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, famed for its intelligence and occasional willingness to approach humans.

   Etymology: dolfin, from daulphin, dalphin, daufin, from delphinus, from δελφίς, from δελφύς "womb".

2. dolphinnoun

   A fish, the mahi-mahi or dorado, scientific name Coryphaena hippurus, with a dorsal fin that runs the length of the body, also known for iridescent coloration.

   Etymology: dolfin, from daulphin, dalphin, daufin, from delphinus, from δελφίς, from δελφύς "womb".

3. dolphinnoun

   The dauphin, eldest son of the kings of France.

   Etymology: dolfin, from daulphin, dalphin, daufin, from delphinus, from δελφίς, from δελφύς "womb".

4. dolphinnoun

   A maritime semi submerged man-made structure usually close to shore.

   Etymology: dolfin, from daulphin, dalphin, daufin, from delphinus, from δελφίς, from δελφύς "womb".

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Dolphinnoun

   a cetacean of the genus Delphinus and allied genera (esp. D. delphis); the true dolphin

   Etymology: [F. dauphin dolphin, dauphin, earlier spelt also doffin; cf. OF. dalphinal of the dauphin; fr. L. delphinus, Gr. delfi`s a dolphin (in senses 1, 2, 3, & 6), perh. properly, belly fish; cf. delfy`s womb, Skr. garbha; perh. akin to E. calf. Cf. Dauphin, Delphine.]

2. Dolphinnoun

   the Coryphaena hippuris, a fish of about five feet in length, celebrated for its surprising changes of color when dying. It is the fish commonly known as the dolphin. See Coryphaenoid

   Etymology: [F. dauphin dolphin, dauphin, earlier spelt also doffin; cf. OF. dalphinal of the dauphin; fr. L. delphinus, Gr. delfi`s a dolphin (in senses 1, 2, 3, & 6), perh. properly, belly fish; cf. delfy`s womb, Skr. garbha; perh. akin to E. calf. Cf. Dauphin, Delphine.]

3. Dolphinnoun

   a mass of iron or lead hung from the yardarm, in readiness to be dropped on the deck of an enemy's vessel

   Etymology: [F. dauphin dolphin, dauphin, earlier spelt also doffin; cf. OF. dalphinal of the dauphin; fr. L. delphinus, Gr. delfi`s a dolphin (in senses 1, 2, 3, & 6), perh. properly, belly fish; cf. delfy`s womb, Skr. garbha; perh. akin to E. calf. Cf. Dauphin, Delphine.]

4. Dolphinnoun

   a kind of wreath or strap of plaited cordage

   Etymology: [F. dauphin dolphin, dauphin, earlier spelt also doffin; cf. OF. dalphinal of the dauphin; fr. L. delphinus, Gr. delfi`s a dolphin (in senses 1, 2, 3, & 6), perh. properly, belly fish; cf. delfy`s womb, Skr. garbha; perh. akin to E. calf. Cf. Dauphin, Delphine.]

5. Dolphinnoun

   a spar or buoy held by an anchor and furnished with a ring to which ships may fasten their cables

   Etymology: [F. dauphin dolphin, dauphin, earlier spelt also doffin; cf. OF. dalphinal of the dauphin; fr. L. delphinus, Gr. delfi`s a dolphin (in senses 1, 2, 3, & 6), perh. properly, belly fish; cf. delfy`s womb, Skr. garbha; perh. akin to E. calf. Cf. Dauphin, Delphine.]

6. Dolphinnoun

   a mooring post on a wharf or beach

   Etymology: [F. dauphin dolphin, dauphin, earlier spelt also doffin; cf. OF. dalphinal of the dauphin; fr. L. delphinus, Gr. delfi`s a dolphin (in senses 1, 2, 3, & 6), perh. properly, belly fish; cf. delfy`s womb, Skr. garbha; perh. akin to E. calf. Cf. Dauphin, Delphine.]

7. Dolphinnoun

   a permanent fender around a heavy boat just below the gunwale

   Etymology: [F. dauphin dolphin, dauphin, earlier spelt also doffin; cf. OF. dalphinal of the dauphin; fr. L. delphinus, Gr. delfi`s a dolphin (in senses 1, 2, 3, & 6), perh. properly, belly fish; cf. delfy`s womb, Skr. garbha; perh. akin to E. calf. Cf. Dauphin, Delphine.]

8. Dolphinnoun

   in old ordnance, one of the handles above the trunnions by which the gun was lifted

   Etymology: [F. dauphin dolphin, dauphin, earlier spelt also doffin; cf. OF. dalphinal of the dauphin; fr. L. delphinus, Gr. delfi`s a dolphin (in senses 1, 2, 3, & 6), perh. properly, belly fish; cf. delfy`s womb, Skr. garbha; perh. akin to E. calf. Cf. Dauphin, Delphine.]

9. Dolphinnoun

   a small constellation between Aquila and Pegasus. See Delphinus, n., 2

   Etymology: [F. dauphin dolphin, dauphin, earlier spelt also doffin; cf. OF. dalphinal of the dauphin; fr. L. delphinus, Gr. delfi`s a dolphin (in senses 1, 2, 3, & 6), perh. properly, belly fish; cf. delfy`s womb, Skr. garbha; perh. akin to E. calf. Cf. Dauphin, Delphine.]

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Dolphin

   Dolphins are marine mammals closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in 17 genera. They vary in size from 1.2 m and 40 kg, up to 9.5 m and 10 tonnes. They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, eating mostly fish and squid. The family Delphinidae is the largest in the Cetacean order, and evolved relatively recently, about ten million years ago, during the Miocene. Dolphins are among the most intelligent animals, and their often friendly appearance, an artifact of the "smile" of their mouthline, and seemingly playful attitude have made them very popular in human culture.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Dolphin

   dol′fin, n. an animal of the whale kind, closely resembling the porpoise, about 8 or 10 feet long: the coryphæna, a fish about 5 feet in length, noted for the brilliancy of its colours when dying.—ns. Dol′phinet (Spens.), a female dolphin; Dol′phin-fly, a black aphis or plant-louse, destructive to bean-plants. [O. Fr. daulphin—L. delphinus—Gr. delphis, -phinos.]

Dictionary of Nautical Terms(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. dolphin

   Naturalists understand by this word numerous species of small cetaceous animals of the genus Delphinus, found in nearly all seas. They greatly resemble porpoises, and are often called by this name by sailors; but they are distinguished by having a longer and more slender snout. The word is also generally, but less correctly, applied to a fish, the dorado (Coryphæna hippuris), celebrated for the changing hues of its surface when dying. Also, a small light ancient boat, which gave rise to Pliny's story of the boy going daily to school across the Lucrine lake on a dolphin. Also, in ordnance, especially brass guns, two handles nearly over the trunnions for lifting the guns by. Also, a French gold coin (dauphine), formerly in great currency. Also, a stout post on a quay-head, or in a beach, to make hawsers fast to. The name is also given to a spar or block of wood, with a ring-bolt at each end, through which a hawser can be rove, for vessels to ride by; the same as wooden buoys.

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. dolphin

   A type of animal.

   Dolphins are so beautiful to see.

   Submitted by MaryC on March 8, 2020  

Etymology and Origins(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Dolphin

   A gold coin introduced by Charles V. of France, also Dauphin of Vienne.

Matched Categories

1. • Percoid Fish
   • Toothed Whale

British National Corpus

1. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Dolphin' in Nouns Frequency: #2186

How to pronounce Dolphin?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say Dolphin in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Dolphin in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Dolphin in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of Dolphin in a Sentence

1. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:

   National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said this bottlenose dolphin was speared to death in May and washed up on shore on Upper Captiva Island in Florida. A reward has been posted for information in the case. ( NOAA) HUNDREDS OF DOLPHINS STRANDED, WASH UP DEAD ALONG US GULF COAST, OFFICIALS SAY The bottlenose dolphin washed up on shore on Upper Captiva Island in May. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the dolphin was known to area biologists when he was alive. He was last observed swimming around fishing boats and was seen with begging dolphins.

2. Chrissie Frickman:

   I knew right away he was going to land in the boat, because of the way he was facing -- knocked me backwards and then landed kind of on my feet and ankles, it was pretty much chaos at that point -- my wife had fallen down, she was screaming, the dolphin was making screaming noises, my daughter was totally freaking out and screaming.

3. Geoff Morrell:

   The data we have seen thus far, including the new study from NOAA, do not show that oil from the Deepwater Horizon accident caused an increase in dolphin mortality.

4. Jabez Reitman:

   I thought it was a dolphin at first until I started feeling and realized it was pretty significant lacerations.

5. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:

   The timing, location, and nature of the lesions support that oil compounds from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill caused these lesions and contributed to the high numbers of dolphin deaths within this oil spill's footprint.

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