English Explanatory Dictionary

orca

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A sea mammal (Orcinus orca) related to dolphins and porpoises, commonly called the killer whale.

Pronunciation

/ˈoɹkə/ /ˈɔːkə/ en-ca-orca.oga

Word forms

orca orcas

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin orca (“tun, cask; whale”), see there for more. Although the origin is obscure, the sometimes-cited association with orcus (“underworld”) is folk-etymology. Doublet of orc.

Synonyms

grampus killer whale orc

Related words

ork orc

Derived words

orcalike Southern resident orca
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