whale
Pronunciation: (hwāl, wāl), [key]
— n., pl. v., whales, whale, whaled, whal•ing.
—n.
- any of the larger marine mammals of the order Cetacea, esp. as distinguished from the smaller dolphins and porpoises, having a fishlike body, forelimbs modified into flippers, and a head that is horizontally flattened.
- something big, great, or fine of its kind: I had a whale of a time in Europe.
- (cap.)the constellation Cetus.
—v.i.
- to engage in whaling or whale fishing.
whale
Pronunciation: (hwāl, wāl), [key]
— v., whaled, whal•ing,
- to hit, thrash, or beat soundly.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.