[si-tey-shuh
n] 
| 1. | belonging to the Cetacea, an order of aquatic, chiefly marine mammals, including the whales and dolphins. |
| 2. | a cetacean mammal. |
| ce·ta·cean (sĭ-tā'shən) n. Any of various aquatic, chiefly marine mammals of the order Cetacea, including the whales, dolphins, and porpoises, characterized by a nearly hairless body, anterior limbs modified into broad flippers, vestigial posterior limbs, and a flat notched tail. adj. also ce·ta·ceous (sĭ-tā'shəs) Of, relating to, or belonging to the order Cetacea. [From New Latin Cētācea, order name, from Latin cētus, whale; see Cetus.] |
| cetacean (sĭ-tā'shən) Pronunciation Key
Any of various, often very large aquatic mammals of the order Cetacea, having a hairless body that resembles that of a fish. Cetaceans have an elongated skull, a flat, horizontal tail, forelimbs modified into broad flippers, and no hind limbs. They breathe through blowholes located usually at the top of the skull. Whales, dolphins, and porpoises are cetaceans. See more at baleen whale, toothed whale. |