porpoise

/ˈpɔːrpəs/
noun
  1. A small, toothed whale with a blunt snout, found in oceans and known for its playful behavior.
    • A pod of porpoises swam alongside the boat, leaping out of the water.
    • The aquarium has a special exhibit where you can watch porpoises play.
    • Porpoises are often confused with dolphins, but they have a different shape and smaller fins.
verb
  1. To move through water by leaping or diving in a smooth, arching motion, like a porpoise.
    • The speedboat porpoised across the lake, bouncing lightly on the surface.
    • The submarine porpoised as it surfaced through the waves.
    • The swimmer porpoised gracefully, diving under one wave and rising over the next.
Synonyms