pilot whale
3
5.5
- noun
- /ˈpaɪlət wɪl/
:
ballena piloto
- The researchers observed the social behavior of pilot whales as they interacted with each other.
Now these dolphins, they range in size from quite small to fairly large, and they include the pilot whale and the killer whale.
- Now these dolphins, they range in size from quite small to fairly large, and they include the pilot whale and the killer whale.
Examples
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Indeed, this idea is supported by the observation that the very largest aggregations of pilot whales, numbering thousands, are seen mainly at the times of year when mating is thought to occur.
Academic text (1995) -
Now these dolphins, they range in size from quite small to fairly large, and they include the pilot whale and the killer whale.
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PHOTO (COLOR): Mother and baby pilot whales swim together within larger social groups that may number in the hundreds.
Academic text (1995) -
Our knowledge of pilot whale biology, as with most cetaceans, is rather poor.
Academic text (1995) -
The pilot whale is a medium-sized species, reaching twenty feet in males and sixteen feet in females.
Academic text (1995) -
Stopping for a view of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, I spied a pod of pilot whales playing alongside a whale watch boat.
Blog text (26) -
As we cross Apolima Strait, which separates Upolu and Savai'i, Juney spots a pod of pilot whales resting at the surface.
Blog text (11) -
During our boat trip, we spotted a pod of pilot whales swimming gracefully near the surface.
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In the Atlantic, pilot whales are known for their strong group dynamics and complex social structures.
Synonyms
1
9.1
A small dark whale that swims in groups led by a large male
1
9.9
A large ocean dolphin called a pilot whale that lives in groups
A small dark whale near the US Atlantic coast whose largest male leads the group
A small dark whale that lives in groups along the Atlantic coast and is often led by a large male
A small dark whale that lives off the Atlantic coast in groups led by a large male
Surface Forms
Morphology
As a noun compound, a learner who knows 'pilot' and 'whale' can infer this refers to a type or role-related feature of a whale (i.e., a whale associated with guiding or leadership), so the basic category ('a kind of whale') is compositional. However, the specific biological sense (a particular small, dark species with social behaviour and the largest male acting as leader) is not fully derivable from the constituents, making the full meaning only partially predictable without exposure.
Etymology
Pilot whale probably gets its name from the way these whales travel in groups with a large male leading them. People thought that male acted like a pilot, or a 'guide', for the group, so the whale got that name.