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APG.American
Pronunciation Guide
HOW TO PRONOUNCE

dolphin

/ˈdɑlf.ɪn/

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What does dolphin mean?

noun

  1. A carnivorous cetacean, typically with a beak-like snout, famed for their intelligence and occasional willingness to approach humans.
  2. Tursiops truncatus, (Atlantic bottlenose dolphin) the most well-known species.
  3. A fish, the mahi-mahi or dorado, Coryphaena hippurus, with a dorsal fin that runs the length of the body, also known for iridescent coloration.
More meanings (17)

noun

  1. A depiction of a fish, with a broad indented fin, usually embowed.
  2. The dauphin, eldest son of the kings of France.
  3. A mass of iron or lead hung from the yardarm, in readiness to be dropped through the deck and the hull of an enemy's vessel to sink it.
  4. A kind of wreath or strap of plaited cordage.
  5. A spar or buoy held by an anchor and furnished with a ring to which ships may fasten their cables.
  6. A mooring post on a wharf or beach.
  7. A permanent fender designed to protect a heavy boat, bridge, or coastal structure from the impact of large floating objects such as ice, floating logs, or vessels.
  8. (slang) A person who buys shares on the primary market only to resell them immediately at a high profit.
  9. A man-made semi submerged maritime structure, usually installed to provide a fixed structure for temporary mooring, to prevent ships from drifting to shallow water or to serve as base for navigational aids.
  10. A member of an athletic team called the Dolphins, such as the Miami Dolphins and teams of various institutions of learning.
  11. (obsolete) One of the handles above the trunnions by which a gun was lifted.

proper noun

  1. A surname.
  2. A township in Knox County, Nebraska, United States.
  3. An unincorporated community in Brunswick County, Virginia, United States.
  4. An unincorporated community in San Juan County, Washington, United States.
  5. A hamlet in Brynford community, Flintshire, Wales (OS grid ref SJ1973).
  6. Synonym of Delphinus (constellation).
Wiktionary contributors Wiktionary contributors

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/ˈdɑlf.ɪn/

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

It was a lake of rainbow light, in which, for a short while, I lived like a dolphin.
Henry David ThoreauWalden, and On The Duty Of Civil DisobedienceProject Gutenberg ebook #205
With the exception of a species found in the Ganges, all other varieties of dolphin inhabit the sea exclusively.
Henry Walter BatesThe Naturalist on the River AmazonsProject Gutenberg ebook #2440
More book examples (3)
Pucelle or puzel, dolphin or dogfish, Your hearts I’ll stamp out with my horse’s heels And make a quagmire of your mingled brains.
William ShakespeareThe Complete Works of William ShakespeareProject Gutenberg ebook #100
One day, after it had been off some hours, it returned in company with three yellowtails, a sort of cousin to the dolphin.
Joshua SlocumSailing Alone Around the WorldProject Gutenberg ebook #6317
To do the fish justice, there is nothing more beautiful than the dolphin when swimming a few feet below the surface, on a bright day.
Richard Henry DanaTwo Years Before the MastProject Gutenberg ebook #2055