Definition

An opening on the top of the head of whales and dolphins that allows them to breathe air when they come to the surface.

Example

The whale surfaced and spouted water from its blowhole.

Conversation

Did you know that dolphins breathe through their blowhole?

Yeah, it's pretty fascinating how they do that!

I saw a documentary where they showed a whale using its blowhole to breathe after diving.

That's awesome! It's amazing how adapted they are to their environment.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

The word 'blowhole' is formed from 'blow' (from Old English 'blāwan', meaning to breathe or emit air) and 'hole' (from Old English 'hol', meaning an opening or hollow space). A blowhole refers to an opening through which air is expelled, typically seen in marine mammals like whales.

Memory Tip

Think of 'blowing' air through an 'opening' — that's what a blowhole does, it allows air to be expelled from a hole.

Visually Confused Words