any of the larger marine mammals of the order Cetacea, esp. as distinguished from the smaller dolphins and porpoises, having a fishlike body, forelimbs modified into flippers, and a head that is horizontally flattened.

Informal . something big, great, or fine of its kind

I had a whale of a time in Europe.

( initial capital letter ) Astronomy . the constellation Cetus.

to engage in whaling or whale fishing.

adjective

cetacean , cetaceous

noun

baleen , beluga , ceta , cetacean , cete , finback , grampus , mammal , narwhal , orc , orca , porpoise , rorqual , sei , whopper