baleen

UK
/bəˈliːn/
US
/bəˈlin/

Translations

baleennoun
baleens
pl
китовый ус
Baleen is used by some whales to filter food from the water.
Китовый ус используется некоторыми китами для фильтрации пищи из воды.
baleenadjective
more baleen
Comp.
most baleen
Super.
UK
/bəˈliːn/
US
/bəˈlin/
Used attributively to describe whales that possess baleen or characteristics related to baleen

Definitions

baleennoun
A filter-feeding system inside the mouths of certain whales, consisting of plates made of keratin that are used to strain small prey from seawater.
The humpback whale uses its baleen to filter krill from the ocean water.
The flexible, horny substance once widely known as whalebone, historically used in items such as corsets and umbrellas.
In the nineteenth century, corset makers prized baleen for its combination of strength and pliability.
baleenadjective
Relating to or characteristic of baleen or the types of whales that possess it.
Blue whales and other baleen species undertake long migrations to reach their feeding grounds.