Cetacea
plural noun
Ce·ta·cea
sēˈtāshēə
: an order of completely aquatic mostly marine eutherian mammals consisting of the whales, dolphins, porpoises, and related forms, all having a very large head, a tapering body like a fish and nearly devoid of hair, forelimbs like paddles, no hind limbs, a tail ending in a broad horizontal fin, a large brain, a complex stomach of four or more chambers, and two mammae posterior in position
Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from neuter plural of cetaceus cetaceous
Dictionary Entries Near Cetacea
Cite this Entry
“Cetacea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Cetacea. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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