English Explanatory Dictionary

baleen

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. keratinous material that makes up the plates in the mouth of the baleen whale (Mysticeti), which it uses to trap its food; formerly used in corsetry.
  2. A baleen whale (Mysticeti).
  3. Any whale or large fish.

Pronunciation

/bəˈliːn/ /ˈbeɪliːn/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-baleen.wav LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-baleen2.wav LL-Q1860 (eng)-Ʒødəlabiskɔt-baleen.wav

Word forms

baleen baleens

Etymology

From Middle English baleyne, from Old French baleine (“whale, whalebone”), from Latin balaena (“whale”), from Ancient Greek φάλαινα (phálaina, “whale”).

Synonyms

whalebone

Derived words

baleen whale intrabaleen

Translations

Bulgarian: бале́на Bulgarian: китова кост Chinese Mandarin: 鯨鬚 /鲸须 Crimean Tatar: kit mıyığı Czech: kostice Dutch: balein Esperanto: balenosto Esperanto: balenlameno Esperanto: barto Finnish: hetula French: fanon German: Barte Greek: μπανέλα Greek: μπαλένα Ido: barto Indonesian: balin Italian: fanone Māori: pāhautea Persian: صفحه شانهای Polish: fiszbin Portuguese: barbas de baleia Romanian: fanon Russian: кито́вый ус Northern Sami: skuogga Spanish: barbas de ballena Swahili: mfupanyangumi Swedish: bard Ukrainian: кито́вий вус
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