1. a small baleen whale found in all oceans, typically 25–30 feet long, with a pointed snout and white band on each flipper
Usage: also called minke whale; zoology

Examples

• The minke whale is the smallest baleen whale species.
• Researchers tracked a minke swimming near the Arctic ice shelf.
• Minkes are known for their distinctive white flipper bands.
• The minke population has remained relatively stable compared to larger whale species.
• Marine biologists observed a minke feeding in the shallow waters off the coast.