ENGLISH
REFERENCE

beluga

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //bɪˈɫuɡə// UK //bɪlˈuːɡɐ// bel·u·ga

n. a type of white whale that lives in the Arctic and northern oceans. It is known for being very social and for making a wide range of sounds.

n. a medium-sized toothed whale of the family Monodontidae, characterized by its white skin, lack of a dorsal fin, and highly vocal nature. Often referred to as the white whale or sea canary.


SIMPLE

The beluga swam close to the boat to see the people.

CONTEXTUAL

Researchers spent the summer tracking a pod of belugas as they migrated through the icy waters of the Arctic.

COMPLEX

Unlike many other cetaceans, the beluga possesses a flexible neck and a melon-shaped forehead, allowing it to rotate its head and produce a diverse array of clicks and whistles for communication.

Synonyms
Origin

Borrowed from Russian белу́га (belúga), from бе́лый (bélyj, “white”). In modern standard Russian, белу́га (belúga) denotes the fish Huso huso only, while белу́ха (belúxa) denotes the cetacean.

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