whale shark /weɪl.ʃɑːk/ noun1 •A very large spotted shark, Rhincodon typus, of warm marine waters, similar to a whale, that feeds by filtering plankton from the water.The largest fish in the world is a shark. It is a harmless plankton eater, and its name, whale shark has been confusing people for years. — 1983 formswhale sharks