noun🔗ShareA small cetacean of the family Phocoenidae, related to dolphins and whales."While whale watching, we saw a pod of porpoises swimming alongside the boat. "animaloceanfishbiologynatureenvironmentChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
noun🔗Share(imprecisely) Any small dolphin."The aquarium showed off several porpoises, which were smaller than the dolphins. "animaloceanfishbiologynatureChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
verb🔗ShareSaid of an air-breathing aquatic animal such as a porpoise or penguin: To repeatedly jump out of the water to take a breath and dive back in a continuous motion."The dolphins were porpoising playfully in the ocean waves. "animalbiologyoceannatureactionChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
verb🔗ShareSaid of an aircraft: to make a series of plunges when taking off or landing; or of a watercraft: to successively plunge up and down in the water."The small plane porpoised several times as it took off from the short runway. "vehiclenauticalsailingtechnicalChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
