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Humpback: meaning, definitions and examples

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humpback

 

[ หˆhสŒmp.bรฆk ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

marine biology

The humpback whale is a species of whale known for its distinctive body shape, long pectoral fins, and complex songs. These whales are known to migrate over long distances, often from feeding grounds in colder regions to breeding grounds in warmer waters. Humpbacks can grow up to 16 meters in length and are easily recognizable due to their knobbly heads and large dorsal fins. They are also famous for their acrobatic behaviors, such as breaching and tail-slapping, which are often observed during whale watching tours.

Synonyms

Megaptera novaeangliae, whale

Examples of usage

  • We saw a humpback whale breaching off the coast.
  • The humpback is known for its impressive songs.
  • During migration, humpbacks can travel thousands of miles.

Translations

Translations of the word "humpback" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น cachalote

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค‰เคญเคกเคผเคพ เคนเฅเค†

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Buckelwal

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ punggung bongkok

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะณะพั€ะฑะฐั‚ะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ garb

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใ“ใถ้ฏจ (ใ“ใถใใ˜ใ‚‰)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท bosse

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ jorobado

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท hรถrgรผรงlรผ

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ํ˜น๋“ฑ๊ณ ๋ž˜

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุญุฏุจุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ hrbรกฤ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ hrbรกฤ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ้ฉผ่ƒŒ็š„

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ grbav

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ hryggir

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะบะตะฑั–ั€

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ›แƒฎแƒ แƒ”แƒšแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ qambur

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ jorobado

Etymology

The term 'humpback' comes from the Old English word 'humpa', which means 'a lump or bump', and 'back', referring to the characteristic hump or curvature of the whale's back. The humpback whale was first described scientifically in the 18th century, with the name Megaptera novaeangliae given by the Swedish botanist and zoologist Carl Linnaeus. This name is derived from the Greek words 'mega' meaning 'large' and 'ptera' meaning 'wing', which refers to the whale's long pectoral fins. Humpback whales have been a part of maritime culture for centuries, often featured in folklore and whaling history. The population of humpback whales faced drastic declines due to commercial whaling in the 20th century, but conservation efforts have led to significant recoveries in many regions.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #28,986, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.