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noun

blowhole

BLOH-hohl
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Blowhole (noun) means the nostril-like opening on top of a whale or dolphin's head, used for breathing. Example: “The whale surfaced and shot a spray of water from its blowhole.”

noun
1
The nostril-like opening on top of a whale or dolphin's head, used for breathing.
"The whale surfaced and shot a spray of water from its blowhole."
"Dolphins close their blowhole tightly whenever they dive."
2
A vent that lets built-up gas, steam, or hot air escape.
"Engineers added a blowhole to release pressure from the tank."

How to use blowhole

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA breathing hole for whales, or more generally any vent that lets gas or air escape.

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Word forms

Plural
blowholes
Third person singular
blowholes
Past tense
blowholed
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The whale surfaced and shot a spray of water from its _____.

Etymology

From "blow" + "hole."

vent venthole vent-hole

Related words

Rhymes for blowhole

See all rhymes for blowhole →

Frequently asked questions

What does “blowhole” mean?
The word “blowhole” means the nostril-like opening on top of a whale or dolphin's head, used for breathing. In plain terms, a breathing hole for whales, or more generally any vent that lets gas or air escape.
How do you pronounce “blowhole”?
“Blowhole” is pronounced BLOH-hohl (/ˈbləʊhəʊl/ in IPA).
How do you use “blowhole” in a sentence?
Here is “blowhole” used in a sentence: “The whale surfaced and shot a spray of water from its blowhole.”
What part of speech is “blowhole”?
“Blowhole” is a noun.
How many meanings does “blowhole” have?
“Blowhole” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the nostril-like opening on top of a whale or dolphin's head, used for breathing.

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