Looking for the meaning or definition of the word porpoise? Here's what it means.
Noun
A small cetacean of the family Phocoenidae, related to whales and dolphins.
(Canada) Any small dolphin.
Verb
(intransitive) Said of an air-breathing aquatic animal such as a porpoise or penguin: To repeatedly jump out of the water to take a breath and dive back in a continuous motion.
(intransitive) Said of an aircraft: to make a series of plunges when taking off or landing; or of a watercraft: to successively plunge up and down in the water.