1. Large slender food and game fish widely distributed in warm seas (especially around Hawaii)
   "The fishermen caught a colourful dolphin near the Hawaiian islands";
   - dolphinfish, mahimahi
    
2. Any of various small toothed whales with a beaklike snout; larger than porpoises
   "Dolphins playfully rode the bow wave of our boat"
    
3. A post or buoy used for mooring
   "The captain skilfully manoeuvred the boat alongside the dolphin to tie up"

Derived forms: dolphins

Type of: percoid, percoid fish, percoidean, toothed whale

Part of: Coryphaenidae, Delphinidae, family Coryphaenidae, family Delphinidae

Encyclopedia: Dolphin, Gary