How Do You Spell BALEENS?

Pronunciation: [bˈaliːnz] (IPA)

The word "baleens" refers to the keratinous plates that filter plankton from the water in the mouths of baleen whales. The spelling of this word originates from the French word "baleine," meaning "whale," with the addition of the English suffix "-s." The IPA phonetic transcription for "baleens" is /beɪˈliːnz/, with the stress on the second syllable. The sound "ai" in "baleen" is pronounced as a long "a" sound, while the ending "-s" is pronounced as a voiceless "z" sound.

BALEENS Meaning and Definition

1. Baleens, also known as baleen plates or whalebone, refer to a specialized type of flexible keratin-based filter-feeding structures found in various cetaceans, predominantly in baleen whales. These elongated, comb-like structures are arranged in parallel rows hanging from the upper jaws of these magnificent marine mammals.

   Each individual baleen plate is made up of numerous thin, flexible and fringed plates, called lamellae, which hang vertically downwards. From a bird's-eye view, this intricate arrangement resembles a dense curtain or sieve. Baleen plates can vary in size, with lengths reaching several meters in large whales and being only a few centimeters in smaller species.

   The primary function of baleen is to enable filter-feeding whales to consume vast quantities of small aquatic organisms, such as krill, plankton, and small fish. As water is engulfed during feeding, the whale's tongue pushes it through the baleen plates. Acting as a filter, the baleen allows water to pass through while trapping the prey organisms inside. The whale then uses its tongue to lick the prey off the baleen and swallow it.

   Baleens are made of keratin, the same sturdy protein found in human hair and nails. However, they possess a unique elasticity that allows them to flex, enabling efficient filtering and preventing damage during feeding. Historically, baleen plates had various uses, including manufacturing corsets, umbrella ribs, and flexible supports for hats. Today, baleens serve as essential biological adaptations for whales, allowing them to sustain their colossal size and ecological niche as masters of filter-feeding in the world's oceans.

Common Misspellings for BALEENS

• balen
• baleen
• valeens
• naleens
• haleens
• galeens
• bzleens
• bsleens
• bwleens
• bqleens
• bakeens
• bapeens
• baoeens
• balwens
• balsens
• baldens
• balrens
• bal4ens
• bal3ens
• balewns

Etymology of BALEENS

The term baleens is actually not a word. The correct term is baleen, which refers to the flexible, fibrous material found in the mouth of baleen whales. The etymology of baleen can be traced back to the Latin word balaena, which means whale. This Latin word was later borrowed into Middle French as balaine, and eventually made its way into English as baleen.