beluga

be·lu·ga  (b-lg)

n.

1. See white whale.

2. A large white sturgeon (Huso huso) of the Black and Caspian seas, whose roe is processed into caviar. Also called beluga sturgeon, whitefish.

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[Russian belukha, white whale, and beluga, sturgeon : bely, white; see bhel-¹ in Indo-European roots + -uga, -ukha, augmentative suff.]

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beluga [bɪˈluːgə]

n

1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) a large white sturgeon, Acipenser (or Huso) huso, of the Black and Caspian Seas: a source of caviar and isinglass

2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) another name for white whale

[from Russian byeluga, from byely white]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	beluga - valuable source of caviar and isinglass; found in Black and Caspian seas Acipenser huso, hausen, white sturgeon sturgeon - large primitive fishes valued for their flesh and roe; widely distributed in the North Temperate Zone Acipenser, genus Acipenser - type genus of the Acipenseridae: sturgeons beluga caviar - roe of beluga sturgeon usually from Russia; highly valued
	2.	beluga - small northern whale that is white when adult Delphinapterus leucas, white whale dolphin - any of various small toothed whales with a beaklike snout; larger than porpoises Delphinapterus, genus Delphinapterus - white whale