dolphin

/ˈdɒlf.ɪn/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: dolphins

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A carnivorous cetacean with a beak-like snout, famed for their intelligence and occasional willingness to approach humans.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A carnivorous cetacean with a beak-like snout, famed for their intelligence and occasional willingness to approach humans. — Tursiops truncatus, (Atlantic bottlenose dolphin) the most well-known species.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

A man-made semi submerged maritime structure, usually installed to provide a fixed structure for temporary mooring, to prevent ships from drifting to shallow water or to serve as base for navigational aids.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

A member of an athletic team called the Dolphins, such as the Miami Dolphins and teams of various institutions of learning.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “dolphin” mean?

A carnivorous cetacean with a beak-like snout, famed for their intelligence and occasional willingness to approach humans.

Is “dolphin” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.