whale /ˈweɪl/noun 8verb 2forms 3phrases 2 noun8 •a sea animal of great size that feeds its young on milk and comes up to the surface to breatheAnd God created great whales, and euery liuing creature that moueth, which the waters brought forth aboundantly after their kinde, and euery winged foule after his kinde: and God saw that it was good. — 1611 •Any species of Cetacea, including dolphins and porpoises. •(figurative) A gambler who routinely wagers large amounts of money.These are often no-limit games as maximum bets cramp a whale’s style. — 2003 •(informal, figurative) An investor who deals with very large amounts of money. •(figurative) A person who spends large amounts of money on things that are marketed to them.Whales are the big spenders who drop huge amounts of money into a game. — 2015 •(figurative) Something, or someone, that is very large.It was a whale of a job. […] It took two months, and the fair blush of youth off my cheeks. — 1920 •(offensive, figurative) An overweight person (usually a woman)The whale is still snoring. He's a real beauty, the whale. Got this thick curly hair all over his chest and stomach and legs. — 1983 •(figurative) Something, or someone, that is excellent.My own father only wrote one poem in his life as far as I know, but it was a whale of a lyric, the kind you would give your whole life to write, which he did, but that is another story. — 2002 verb2 •To hunt for whales. •(slang) To thrash, to flog, to beat vigorously or soundly.Brought him back, put him in the stall—low stable—got out of his reach, and then begun to whale him. Then he kicked up agin; […] — 1852 formswhaled · whaling · whales Phrases with whale whale awayTo whale on something in an ongoing manner (i.e., with progressive aspect). whale onTo strike an opponent heavily and repeatedly in a fight.
