sperm whale: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Scientific, Educational
Quick answer
What does “sperm whale” mean?
A large toothed whale, the largest of the odontocetes, characterized by a massive square head containing spermaceti, and known for its deep diving abilities to hunt giant squid.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large toothed whale, the largest of the odontocetes, characterized by a massive square head containing spermaceti, and known for its deep diving abilities to hunt giant squid.
A whale species (*Physeter macrocephalus* or *Physeter catodon*) of significant ecological and historical importance, once heavily hunted for spermaceti oil and ambergris, and a subject of cultural fascination (e.g., Moby-Dick).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling of related terms follows regional conventions (e.g., 'behaviour' vs. 'behavior').
Connotations
Identical. Strongly associated with marine biology, whaling history, and literature.
Frequency
Similar frequency in relevant contexts (marine biology, documentaries).
Grammar
How to Use “sperm whale” in a Sentence
The sperm whale dives [to a depth of X metres].Sperm whales feed [on squid].Researchers study [the behaviour of] sperm whales.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sperm whale” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The crew hoped to sperm whale off the Azores, but the season was poor.
American English
- In the 19th century, ships would sperm whale in the Pacific for years at a time.
adjective
British English
- The sperm-whale fishery was central to the town's economy.
American English
- They analyzed a sperm whale skeleton at the museum.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Historic references to the whaling industry; modern ecotourism.
Academic
Marine biology, ecology, conservation science, historical studies.
Everyday
In documentaries, news about strandings, or general discussions about whales.
Technical
Species identification, cetacean research, bioacoustics (referring to their click sequences).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sperm whale”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sperm whale”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sperm whale”
- Misspelling as 'spermwhale' (should be two words or hyphenated: sperm-whale).
- Confusing it with other large whales like the blue whale.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is named for the spermaceti organ in its head, which early whalers mistakenly thought contained sperm.
They are exceptional divers, capable of reaching depths of over 2,000 metres (6,500 feet) and holding their breath for up to 90 minutes.
They are not typically aggressive. There are rare historical accounts of whaling ships being sunk by wounded sperm whales, which inspired 'Moby-Dick'.
The species is currently classified as 'Vulnerable' by the IUCN due to past commercial whaling, though populations are recovering in some areas.
A large toothed whale, the largest of the odontocetes, characterized by a massive square head containing spermaceti, and known for its deep diving abilities to hunt giant squid.
Sperm whale is usually formal, scientific, educational in register.
Sperm whale: in British English it is pronounced /ˈspɜːm ˌweɪl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈspɝːm ˌweɪl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Rare] 'A Moby-Dick situation' – an obsessive, futile pursuit (derived from the novel, not the term itself).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'SPERM' whale has a SPERMaceti organ in its huge head.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE DEEP DIVER (for profundity or seeking hidden things); THE LEVIATHAN (for immense, powerful, sometimes inscrutable entities).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary diet of the sperm whale?