Cetacea
Syllabification: (Ce·ta·cea)
Pronunciation: /siˈtāSH(ē)ə/
Zoology
Definition of Cetacea
- an order of marine mammals that comprises the whales, dolphins, and porpoises. These have a streamlined hairless body, no hind limbs, a horizontal tail fin, and a blowhole on top of the head for breathing. See also Mysticeti, Odontoceti.
Origin:
modern Latin (plural), from Latin cetus, from Greek kētos 'whale'