noun
porpoise
PAW-puhs
Porpoise (noun) means a small whale-like marine mammal related to dolphins, with a blunt snout. Example: “A pod of porpoises followed the ferry across the bay.”
noun
1
A small whale-like marine mammal related to dolphins, with a blunt snout.
"A pod of porpoises followed the ferry across the bay."
verb
1
To repeatedly leap out of the water and dive back in while swimming, in the manner of a porpoise.
"The dolphins porpoised alongside the boat."
How to use porpoise
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small, dolphin-like sea mammal, or the leaping-and-diving motion associated with it.
Common mistake
Porpoises and dolphins are different families — porpoises have blunter snouts and flatter, spade-shaped teeth.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- porpoises
- Third person singular
- porpoises
- Past tense
- porpoised
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A pod of _____ followed the ferry across the bay.
Etymology
From Old French porpois, from Vulgar Latin porcopiscis, literally "hog-fish" — from porcus ("pig") and piscis ("fish").
Rhymes for porpoise
See all rhymes for porpoise →Frequently asked questions
What does “porpoise” mean?
The word “porpoise” means a small whale-like marine mammal related to dolphins, with a blunt snout. In plain terms, a small, dolphin-like sea mammal, or the leaping-and-diving motion associated with it.
How do you pronounce “porpoise”?
“Porpoise” is pronounced PAW-puhs (/ˈpɔːɹpəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “porpoise” in a sentence?
Here is “porpoise” used in a sentence: “A pod of porpoises followed the ferry across the bay.”
What part of speech is “porpoise”?
Depending on how it is used, “porpoise” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “porpoise” come from?
The word “porpoise” comes from Vulgar Latin. From Old French porpois, from Vulgar Latin porcopiscis, literally "hog-fish" — from porcus ("pig") and piscis ("fish").
How many meanings does “porpoise” have?
“Porpoise” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small whale-like marine mammal related to dolphins, with a blunt snout.
