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grampus

 
Dictionary: gram·pus   (grăm'pəs) pronunciation
 
n.
  1. A cetacean (Grampus griseus) related to and resembling the dolphins but lacking a beaklike snout.
  2. Any of various similar cetaceans, such as the killer whale.

[Alteration (perhaps influenced by GRAND) of Middle English graspeis, from Old French craspois, graspeis, from Medieval Latin crassus piscis, craspiscis : Latin crassus, fat + Latin piscis, fish.]


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grampus, name applied to two members of the dolphin family (Delphinidae): Grampus griseus, also known as Risso's dolphin, of worldwide distribution, and Orcinus orca, also known as the killer whale.


 

Killer whale, Orcinus orca. The name is also used for Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus.

 
WordNet: grampus
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Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has 2 meanings:

Meaning #1: predatory black-and-white toothed whale with large dorsal fin; common in cold seas
  Synonyms: killer whale, killer, orca, sea wolf, Orcinus orca

Meaning #2: slaty-gray blunt-nosed dolphin common in northern seas
  Synonym: Grampus griseus


 
 
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Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
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