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Glite Dictionary
family Balaenidae

family Balaenidae

8.2
Large whales like right whales with curved jaws and no back fin
  • noun
  • /ˈfæmɪli ˌbælɪˈneɪdi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : familia Balaenidae
  • The family Balaenidae includes all species commonly known as right whales.

Examples

  • The family Balaenidae includes some of the largest whales in the ocean.

  • Did you know that the family Balaenidae has no dorsal fins?

  • Members of the family Balaenidae are recognized by their distinctive arched mouths.

  • Scientists study the migration patterns of whales in the family Balaenidae.

  • The family Balaenidae consists of large whales known for their lack of dorsal fins.

  • Whales in the family Balaenidae are often referred to as right whales due to their unique features.

  • Researchers are focused on conservation efforts for the family Balaenidae that includes endangered species.

Synonyms

Balaenidae
vsfamily Balaenidae
  • Specialized
9.9

A family of large whales with baleen plates like right whales

emphasizes arched jaws and missing back fin as identifying features

Surface Forms

family Balaenidae singular
families Balaenidae plural

Morphology

family + Balaenidae

This is a straightforward compositional noun phrase: 'family' denotes a taxonomic grouping and 'Balaenidae' names the group of right whales, so the meaning 'the family of Balaenidae (right whales)' is directly derivable from the constituents. Taxonomic constructions of this form are cross-linguistically regular, so a B1 learner who knows both words would understand the MWE.

Etymology

Family Balaenidae gets its name from the old Latin word Balaena, which meant 'whale'. One popular story is that they are the 'right' whales — old whalers called them 'right' because they were slow and floated when killed — so today family Balaenidae means the large whales with an arched mouth and no fin on their back.