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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.

orca

/ˈɔrkə/ /ˈɔːkə/

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.

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