Orca

Pronunciation: /ɔrkə/

Definitions of orca

noun a large black and white sea mammal, also known as a killer whale

Example Sentences

A1 An orca is a type of whale.

A2 Orca whales are known for their black and white coloring.

B1 Researchers study the behavior of orcas in the wild.

B2 Some people believe that orcas should not be kept in captivity.

C1 The orca population in certain regions is facing threats from pollution and habitat loss.

C2 Conservation efforts are being made to protect orcas and their marine environment.

Examples of orca in a Sentence

formal The orca, also known as the killer whale, is a highly intelligent marine mammal.

informal I saw an orca at the aquarium today, it was so cool!

slang That orca show was lit, bro!

figurative The orca of the business world, he dominates every deal he's involved in.

Grammatical Forms of orca

• past tense: orcas
• plural: orcas
• comparative: more orca
• superlative: most orca
• present tense: orca
• future tense: will be orca
• perfect tense: have been orca
• continuous tense: is being orca
• singular: orca
• positive degree: orca
• infinitive: to orca
• gerund: orcing
• participle: orced

Origin and Evolution of orca

First Known Use: 1839 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'orca' comes from the Latin word 'Orcinus', which means 'belonging to Orcus' or 'of the kingdom of the dead'. This is likely due to the fearsome reputation of killer whales in ancient times.

Evolution of the word: The word 'orca' was first used in English in 1839 to refer to killer whales. Over time, it has become the accepted common name for these marine mammals, replacing older terms like 'grampus' or 'blackfish'.