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Glite Dictionary
cetaceous

cetaceous

9.6
Relating to whales, dolphins, and other sea mammals
  • adjective
  • /sɪˈteɪʃəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : cetáceo
  • Many cetaceous animals, such as the blue whale, are critically endangered due to climate change.

Examples

  • Researchers study cetaceous behavior to better understand communication in marine mammals.

  • The ocular and cetaceous drying effects of this agent are poorly tolerated, and its potential for serious adverse effects (including teratogenic effects) contradicts its use in routine care.

    Academic text (2015)

  • The documentary provided fascinating insights into cetaceous species like dolphins and whales.

Synonyms

cetacean
vscetaceous
  • Specialized
1 8.5

Relating to whales, dolphins, or porpoises

is the same sense expressed in a different form
whalelike
vscetaceous
3.9

Like a very large sea animal in shape, size, or movement

is about the taxonomic group including dolphins and porpoises rather than appearance

Surface Forms

cetaceous positive

Morphology

cetaceous = cetacean (transparent) = cetacean + ous

Standard adjectival formation from 'cetacean' with the productive suffix '-ous' yielding 'relating to cetaceans'.

Etymology

The word cetaceous comes from the old Greek word ketos, which meant 'sea monster' and was used for very large sea animals. The same root is in the English word cetacean, so cetaceous means 'relating to whales and other similar sea mammals'.