LingvoCore.com

beluga: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

C1
UK/bɪˈluːɡə/US/bəˈluːɡə/

Specialist/Biological; Culinary

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “beluga” mean?

A large white sturgeon or a small white-toothed whale.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A large white sturgeon or a small white-toothed whale.

The beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) is an Arctic and sub-Arctic cetacean known for its white colour, social nature, and distinctive 'melon' forehead. The beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) is a large fish from the Caspian Sea region, prized for its caviar.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.

Connotations

The whale connotes wildlife, conservation, and the Arctic. The sturgeon/fish connotes luxury, gastronomy, and high expense.

Frequency

The whale sense is likely more frequent globally due to media coverage. The caviar sense is frequent in specific culinary/economic contexts.

Grammar

How to Use “beluga” in a Sentence

[Adj] belugabeluga [N]

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
beluga whalebeluga caviarbaby belugabeluga sturgeon
medium
white belugawild belugaArctic belugaRussian beluga
weak
pod of belugastin of belugabeluga populationbeluga conservation

Examples

Examples of “beluga” in a Sentence

adjective

British English

  • The beluga whale exhibit is popular.
  • He prefers beluga caviar over the osetra variety.

American English

  • The beluga whale habitat is being studied.
  • Beluga caviar is prohibitively expensive.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

In trade, refers to the caviar industry and its regulation (e.g., 'The ban on beluga caviar imports').

Academic

Used in marine biology and zoology papers (e.g., 'The vocal repertoire of the beluga').

Everyday

Mostly refers to the whale seen in documentaries or aquariums (e.g., 'We saw a beluga at the sea life centre.').

Technical

Used in conservation science and fisheries management for both species.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “beluga”

Strong

Delphinapterus leucasHuso huso

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “beluga”

none applicable

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “beluga”

  • Using 'beluga' to refer to any caviar (it's specifically from the beluga sturgeon).
  • Spelling as 'balluga' or 'belugga'.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

It can be either. The beluga whale is a mammal. The beluga sturgeon is a fish.

It comes from the rare, slow-maturing beluga sturgeon, and its harvest is strictly regulated, making it a scarce luxury product.

No, they are not considered dangerous. They are known for their curious and friendly nature towards humans in the wild and in captivity.

No, 'beluga' is only used as a noun or attributively as an adjective (e.g., beluga whale). It does not have a standard verb form.

A large white sturgeon or a small white-toothed whale.

Beluga is usually specialist/biological; culinary in register.

Beluga: in British English it is pronounced /bɪˈluːɡə/, and in American English it is pronounced /bəˈluːɡə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “none applicable”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine a large, white, 'beautiful' whale 'lugging' itself through Arctic waters: Be-LUGA.

Conceptual Metaphor

WHITENESS IS PURITY / RARITY IS VALUE.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
Due to overfishing, the sturgeon is now critically endangered.
Multiple Choice

In which context is 'beluga' LEAST likely to refer to a fish?