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Glite Dictionary
white-tipped shark

white-tipped shark

8.0
A large deep water fish with a white tip on its back fin that can be dangerous to people
  • noun
  • /ˈwaɪtˌtɪpt ʃɑrk/
translation icon : tiburón de puntas blancas
  • The white-tipped shark can be easily identified by the white markings on its dorsal fin.

Examples

  • The white-tipped shark is known for its aggressive behavior.

  • The white-tipped shark is known for its bold behavior around humans in open water.

  • Divers observed several white-tipped sharks circling near the reef during their expedition.

  • Many divers have encountered the white-tipped sharks in the Pacific Ocean.

  • The diver spotted a white-tipped shark gliding gracefully through the deep water.

  • Many fishermen are wary of encountering a white-tipped shark during their expeditions.

  • The documentary showcased the hunting behavior of the white-tipped shark in its natural habitat.

Synonyms

whitetip
vswhite-tipped shark
  • US
1 6.9

A shark with white tips on its fins

is a general label that covers several species rather than one
Carcharinus longimanus
vswhite-tipped shark
  • Specialized
9.9

A large shark that lives in deep water with a white-tipped top fin and is known to attack people

is the common everyday name rather than the formal term
oceanic whitetip shark
vswhite-tipped shark
6.1

A large shark with white tips on its fins that lives in warm open oceans and can attack people

is stated as worldwide without focusing on habitat detail
whitetip shark
vswhite-tipped shark
  • US
7.7

A shark with white tips on its fins that lives in deep warm seas and can be dangerous

is broader, referring to the same type but found worldwide

Surface Forms

white-tipped shark singular
white-tipped sharks plural

Morphology

white-tipped + shark

The phrase is compositionally transparent: 'white-tipped' literally means 'having a white tip' and combining that adjectival phrase with 'shark' yields 'a shark with a white tip.' This adjectival + noun structure is a straightforward, cross-linguistic descriptive pattern, so a B1 learner who knows 'white', 'tip' (or 'tipped') and 'shark' can reliably infer the meaning.

Etymology

White-tipped shark The name white-tipped shark comes from a simple picture: people saw a small white tip on the top of the shark's fin and used white and tipped to describe it. So the name now means 'a large deep water shark with a white-tipped fin', and that clear image helps people spot and warn about this dangerous shark.