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Glite Dictionary
hooded seal

hooded seal

7.7
A medium-sized seal in Arctic waters with a large inflatable bag on its nose
  • noun
  • /ˈhʊdɪd siːl/
  • US
translation icon : foca de capucha
  • The other is the hooded seal, and they lactate for a grand total of four days before the infant is weaned.

Examples

  • Did you know that male hooded seals blow a pink skin bubble out of their noses?

  • The hooded seal is known for its distinctive inflatable sac that males use during mating displays.

  • In the Arctic, the hooded seal can be seen resting on ice floes while its pups remain nearby.

  • Hooded seals are fascinating creatures that can blow impressive pink bubbles from their noses.

Synonyms

Cystophora cristata
vshooded seal
  • Specialized
9.9

A medium-sized grey seal with a large air sac on its head that lives in Arctic seas

is the everyday common name rather than the scientific label
bladdernose
vshooded seal
  • UK
9.9

A medium-sized dark grey seal with a large inflatable nose sac that lives in Arctic and northern Atlantic waters

is the common name typically used instead of that alternative

How Big

seal
108 1.0
hooded seal
  • US
7.7
harbor seal
  • US
1 3.9

Surface Forms

hooded seal singular
hooded seals plural

Morphology

hooded + seal

The meaning is directly compositional: 'hooded' (having a hood-like marking or fold) modifies 'seal' (a marine mammal), so the phrase denotes a seal with a hood-like feature. This is a literal, non-idiomatic adjectival noun combination common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Hooded seal gets its name from the male's strange inflatable hood, a large bag on its nose that he can fill with air like a balloon. That's why the animal is called 'hooded' today.