black whale
- noun
- /blæk weɪl/
:
cachalote
- The black whale was once extensively hunted for its valuable oil.
Examples
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Ambergris, used in perfume, is sometimes found in the intestines of the black whale.
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Researchers studied the migration patterns of the black whale in the Pacific Ocean.
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The black whale is known for its massive size.
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Many researchers study the black whale for its unique characteristics.
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The black whale, known for its large head, contains valuable spermaceti that was historically sought after by whalers.
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Scientists have discovered that the black whale plays a crucial role in the marine ecosystem due to its size and feeding habits.
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The body of the black whale can often be found drifting in the ocean after its death, providing food for other marine animals.
Synonyms
4
3.7
A very large whale with a huge head and big teeth that lives in deep oceans
A very large whale with a big head that contains waxy oil and sometimes produces ambergris
A large whale with a square head that holds oil
Surface Forms
Morphology
The core meaning — a whale that is black or dark-colored — is directly and compositionally derived from 'black' + 'whale', so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer the referent. Although the full dictionary entry adds specialised details about spermaceti and ambergris, those are extra encyclopedic facts and do not affect the transparent, literal composition of the phrase.
Etymology
The name black whale was used by old whalers to mean large whales hunted for their valuable 'oil' and 'ambergris' because the animals and their oil looked dark. That's why black whale came to mean a big whale, like the sperm whale, with a space in its head that held this useful oil and perfume material.