cachalot

/'kæʃəlɔt/

Thân thiện

A cachalot surfaces in the deep blue ocean.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A large whale with a large cavity in its head containing spermaceti and oil; also a source of ambergris: The "cachalot" is a specific type of large whale, scientifically known as the sperm whale. It is characterized by its massive head, which contains a reservoir of a waxy substance called spermaceti and oil. This whale is also historically valued as a source of ambergris, a substance used in perfumery.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The cachalot is known for its deep diving abilities.
  • In the 19th century, whalers hunted the cachalot for its spermaceti oil.
  • Ambergris, a valuable product from the cachalot, was found washed ashore.

Advanced Usage

• Scientific context: The term "cachalot" is often used in zoological, marine biology, and historical whaling contexts to refer specifically to the sperm whale ().
  • The study focused on the echolocation clicks of the cachalot.

Variants and Related Words

• Sperm whale: This is the more common modern name for the "cachalot." The terms are synonyms.
  • The sperm whale, or cachalot, is the largest toothed predator.

Synonyms

• Sperm whale: The primary and most widely used synonym.
• Physeter macrocephalus: The scientific (Latin) name for the species.

Học thuật

Noun

1. large whale with a large cavity in the head containing spermaceti and oil; also a source of ambergris

Từ đồng nghĩa

• sperm whale
• black whale
• Physeter catodon