# dolphin

/ˈdɑɫfən/ (US) · /dˈɒlfɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dolphin
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. sea mammal

noun · CEFR A2

a very smart sea animal that breathes air and often swims near boats.

For teachers: any of various aquatic mammals of the families Delphinidae and Platanistidae, characterised by a beak-like snout and high intelligence.

- We saw a group of dolphins jumping in the waves behind our boat.
- Marine biologists observed the pod of dolphins using sophisticated clicking sounds to communicate while hunting schools of fish near the reef.

### 2. mahi-mahi fish

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a large, colourful tropical fish that is also called mahi-mahi.

For teachers: a large, brightly coloured oceanic fish, Coryphaena hippurus, also known as the dorado or mahi-mahi.

- The restaurant serves grilled dolphin, but it is a fish, not the mammal.
- Anglers prize the common dolphin fish for its vibrant iridescent colours and its reputation as a powerful fighter when hooked.

### 3. mooring structure

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a post or structure in the water used for tying up ships.

For teachers: a man-made maritime structure, such as a piling or buoy, used for mooring vessels or protecting bridges from impact.

- The captain carefully steered the ship toward the concrete dolphin to tie the ropes.
- The port authority installed several steel dolphins to provide additional mooring points for the large tankers entering the narrow channel.

### 4. French prince

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

an old word for the eldest son of the King of France.

For teachers: a historical variant of 'dauphin', referring to the eldest son of the kings of France.

- The young dolphin was expected to become the next king.
- Historical documents from the fourteenth century refer to the king's heir as the dolphin, a title later standardised as dauphin.

## Examples

- We saw a dolphin jumping near our boat today.
- The researchers spent the afternoon tracking a pod of dolphins as they moved along the coast.
- Marine biologists have long studied the sophisticated sonar systems and social structures that allow dolphins to coordinate complex hunting strategies in the open ocean.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.