Orca - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
An orca, also known as a killer whale, is a large marine mammal with black-and-white coloring. It is a highly intelligent predator found in oceans worldwide.
Definition:
A large black-and-white predatory marine mammal, also known as a killer whale.
Synonyms:
killer whale, grampus, blackfish
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
(No direct antonyms; contextually) dolphin, porpoise
Common Collocations:
orca pod, orca whale, orca attack, orca behavior, orca conservation
Derivatives:
orcas (plural), orcalike
Usage Tips:
Use "orca" to refer specifically to the species; avoid confusion with other whales by specifying "killer whale" if needed.
Common Phrases:
orca pod, killer whale attack, blackfish documentary
Etymology:
From Latin *orca*, meaning "a kind of whale," possibly derived from Greek *oryx* (large fish).
Examples:
- 1. The orca swam gracefully near our boat.
- 2. We saw an orca breach the water’s surface dramatically.
- 3. Orcas are highly intelligent and social creatures.
- 4. The documentary highlighted the plight of captive orcas.