Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small, toothed whale: A porpoise is a marine mammal belonging to the family Phocoenidae. They are smaller than most dolphins, have a blunt snout (rostrum) without a pronounced beak, and spade-shaped teeth.
   • A gregarious cetacean: Porpoises are social animals often seen in small groups.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • We saw a porpoise swimming near the harbor.
  • The harbor porpoise is one of the smallest cetaceans.

Advanced Usage

• "To porpoise" (verb, specialized): To move through air or water in a series of rising and falling arcs, reminiscent of how a porpoise swims at the surface. This usage is common in aviation and naval contexts.
  • The missile porpoised after launch before stabilizing its flight path.
  • The submarine porpoised briefly to periscope depth.

Variants and Related Words

• Porpoising (n/adj): The action or characteristic of moving like a porpoise.
  • The boat experienced porpoising at high speed.

Synonyms

• Cetacean: A marine mammal of the order Cetacea (whales, dolphins, porpoises). (This is a broader category.)
• Small whale: A general descriptive term.

Related Phrases

• Harbor porpoise: The common name for , a widespread species.
• Dall's porpoise: The common name for , a fast-swimming species with distinctive coloring.

Related Idioms

• "Happy as a porpoise": An informal idiom meaning to be very happy and playful. (Note: This is less common than "happy as a clam" but is used for alliterative effect.)
  • Splashing in the pool, the children were as happy as porpoises.

Noun

1. any of several small gregarious cetacean mammals having a blunt snout and many teeth