blowhole: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low FrequencyTechnical / Scientific / Informal (when referring to sea mammals)
Quick answer
What does “blowhole” mean?
A hole in the top of a whale's or dolphin's head through which it breathes air.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A hole in the top of a whale's or dolphin's head through which it breathes air.
A hole in ice, rock, or other surfaces through which air or water is forcibly expelled; or a vent for air or gases in a foundry or industrial setting.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant semantic differences. Spelling is identical. Minor differences in preferred context (e.g., UK might use 'blowhole' more readily for sea caves; US may use 'vent' more often in industrial contexts, but 'blowhole' remains understood).
Connotations
Neutral to scientific for the zoological sense. The industrial sense is technical with no particular cultural connotation.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both varieties, almost exclusively encountered in nature documentaries, scientific texts, or specific industrial/geological discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “blowhole” in a Sentence
The [ANIMAL] exhaled through its blowhole.A powerful geyser erupted from the [MATERIAL] blowhole.The [INDUSTRIAL PROCESS] requires a blowhole to release pressure.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually unused.
Academic
Used in marine biology, zoology, geology, and industrial engineering contexts.
Everyday
Used when discussing whales, dolphins, or dramatic coastal geology (e.g., sea caves that spout water).
Technical
Precise term in cetacean anatomy and in metallurgy/geology for specific vent structures.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blowhole”
- Pronouncing it as 'blow-hole' with equal stress on both syllables (stress is on first syllable).
- Misspelling as 'blow whole'.
- Using it to refer to a nostril on land animals.
- Confusing it with 'blowhole' as a casting defect (industrial term) when discussing animals.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes, for cetaceans (whales, dolphins, porpoises). It can also refer to similar structures in other marine mammals like manatees, and by extension to geological or industrial vents.
No, it would be considered humorous or metaphorical. The correct term for humans is 'nostril'.
They are homonyms. In zoology, it's a breathing hole. In foundry work, it's a cavity (a defect) caused by trapped gas or a vent hole in a mould to allow gas to escape.
In both UK and US English, the stress is on the first syllable: BLOW-hole. The main difference is in the vowel of 'blow' (/əʊ/ in UK, /oʊ/ in US).
A hole in the top of a whale's or dolphin's head through which it breathes air.
Blowhole is usually technical / scientific / informal (when referring to sea mammals) in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a whale BLOWing out a spout of air and water from a HOLE in its head.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOURCE-PATH-GOAL (air moves from lungs, through the blowhole, into the environment); CONTAINER (the animal's body has an opening).
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts is the term 'blowhole' LEAST likely to be used correctly?