finback whale
- noun
- /ˈfɪnˌbæk weɪl/
:
ballena de aleta
- Many finback whales migrate to warmer waters each year.
Examples
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Scientists observed a pod of finback whales feeding in the North Atlantic Ocean.
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Conservation groups are working to protect the endangered finback whale from hunting and habitat loss.
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The finback whale is known for its speed and graceful swimming style.
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The finback whale is known for its impressive size.
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The researchers observed a finback whale swimming gracefully in the crystal-clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
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During the ocean expedition, they recorded the sounds made by the finback whale as it surfaced for air.
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A team of scientists studied the feeding patterns of the finback whale off the coast of California.
Synonyms
3
4.0
A large whale with a flat head, long body and small back fin found in the Atlantic and Pacific
A very large whale with a flat head and deep grooves along its throat
A large whale that has a flat head and deep lines on its throat, often called the fin whale
A very large whale with a flat head and deep lines on its throat found in many oceans
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a straightforward taxonomic compound: 'finback' specifies a particular kind of whale and 'whale' provides the category, so the overall meaning (a type of large whale) is directly derivable from the parts. Such descriptive noun compounds are compositionally transparent and common cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
Finback whale comes from the long, thin fin on its back, which is easy to see when the whale swims. People used that clear image to name this large whale, so the name now tells you which kind of whale it is.