porpoise
1 of 2noun
por·poise ˈpȯr-pəs 
1
: any of a family (Phocoenidae) of small gregarious toothed whales
especially : a blunt-snouted usually dark gray whale (Phocoena phocoena) of the North Atlantic and North Pacific that typically ranges from 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 meters) in length
2
: dolphin sense 1a(1) —not used technically
Note: While not closely related, porpoises and dolphins share a physical resemblance that often leads to misidentification. Porpoises typically have flat, spade-shaped teeth, triangular dorsal fins, and shortened beaks with relatively small mouths while dolphins have cone-shaped teeth, curved dorsal fins, and elongated beaks with larger mouths.
porpoise
2 of 2verb
porpoised; porpoising; porpoises
intransitive verb
1
: to leap or plunge like a porpoise
penguins … porpoise out of the water
David Lewis
David Lewis2
: to rise and fall repeatedly
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 May 2022 To get a better picture of how the vaquita porpoise could rebound, the researchers sequenced and analyzed 20 vaquita genomes taken from archived tissue samples, Kendal Blust reports for NPR. Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 May 2022 Somewhat surprisingly, despite the relative shallowness of its gene pool, inbreeding isn’t likely to be an issue for the porpoise. Doug Johnson, Ars Technica, 6 May 2022 If the vaquita is protected and the gillnet deaths stop completely, the team estimated that there would only be a 6 percent chance that the porpoise would go extinct in half a century, NPR reports. Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 May 2022 The vaquita porpoise has become more resilient to inbreeding and can avoid harmful genetic mutations, as a result of living in relatively small population sizes, according to the study. Camille Fine, USA TODAY, 10 May 2022 With only around 10 individuals left in the world, a tiny porpoise called the vaquita is facing extinction. Doug Johnson, Ars Technica, 6 May 2022 But that may not yet spell doom for the vaquita porpoise, according to new research. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 5 May 2022 It was designed to be easily employed as well, launching directly from the surface and re-emerge from under ground upon completion, like a porpoise, according to the company. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 25 Apr. 2022 Mallorie Sullivan, Cincinnati.com, 20 Feb. 2018 See More
Noun
The team used the genetic analysis and what is known about the porpoise's life span and reproductive behavior to model and simulate population growth and decline depending on the number of gillnet deaths. Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 May 2022 To get a better picture of how the vaquita porpoise could rebound, the researchers sequenced and analyzed 20 vaquita genomes taken from archived tissue samples, Kendal Blust reports for NPR. Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 May 2022 Somewhat surprisingly, despite the relative shallowness of its gene pool, inbreeding isn’t likely to be an issue for the porpoise. Doug Johnson, Ars Technica, 6 May 2022 If the vaquita is protected and the gillnet deaths stop completely, the team estimated that there would only be a 6 percent chance that the porpoise would go extinct in half a century, NPR reports. Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 May 2022 The vaquita porpoise has become more resilient to inbreeding and can avoid harmful genetic mutations, as a result of living in relatively small population sizes, according to the study. Camille Fine, USA TODAY, 10 May 2022 With only around 10 individuals left in the world, a tiny porpoise called the vaquita is facing extinction. Doug Johnson, Ars Technica, 6 May 2022 But that may not yet spell doom for the vaquita porpoise, according to new research. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 5 May 2022 It was designed to be easily employed as well, launching directly from the surface and re-emerge from under ground upon completion, like a porpoise, according to the company. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 25 Apr. 2022 Verb
Calvin stepped up to the glass, watching Fiona porpoise around Hippo Cove with her mother, Bibi. Mallorie Sullivan, Cincinnati.com, 20 Feb. 2018 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English porpoys, from Anglo-French porpeis, from Medieval Latin porcopiscis, from Latin porcus pig + piscis fish — more at farrow, fish
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1909, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing porpoise
Kids Definition
porpoise
noun
por·poise ˈpȯr-pəs
1
: a small whale with teeth that resembles a dolphin but has a blunt rounded snout
2
: dolphin sense 1