Definition of "whale" in Anglais

noun

1. Any one of numerous large marine mammals comprising an informal group within infraorder Cetacea that usually excludes dolphins and porpoises.

2. (by extension) Any species of Cetacea.

3. (figuratively) 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.

4. (figuratively, as "whale of a ___") 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.

5. (gambling, figuratively) A gambler who routinely wagers large amounts of money.

6. (finance, figuratively, informal) An investor who deals with very large amounts of money.

7. (marketing, figuratively) A person who spends large amounts of money on things that are marketed to them.

8. (figuratively, colloquial, derogatory) An overweight person (usually a woman)

verb

1. (intransitive) To hunt for whales.

verb

1. (slang, transitive) 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; […]
   • For quotations using this term, see Citations:whale.