killer whale

3 definitions found

killer whale - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Killer \Kill"er\, n.
     1. One who deprives of life; one who, or that which, kills.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Zool.) A voracious, toothed whale of the genus Orca, of
        which several species are known; called also killer  whale
        .
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The killers have a high dorsal fin, and powerful jaws
           armed with large, sharp teeth. They capture, and
           swallow entire, large numbers of seals, porpoises, and
           dolphins, and are celebrated for their savage, combined
           attacks upon the right whales, which they are said to
           mutilate and kill. The common Atlantic species (Orca gladiator
           ), is found both on the European and the
           American coast. Two species (Orca ater and Orca rectipinna
           ) occur on the Pacific coast.
           [1913 Webster]

  Killer whale \Kill"er whale`\, n.
     see killer[2].
     [PJC]

killer whale - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  killer whale
      n 1: predatory black-and-white toothed whale with large dorsal
           fin; common in cold seas [syn: killer whale, killer,
           orca, grampus, sea wolf, Orcinus orca]