(||Ce*ta"ce*a) n. pl. [NL., from L. cetus whale, Gr. .] (Zoöl.) An order of marine mammals,
including the whales. Like ordinary mammals they breathe by means of lungs, and bring forth living
young which they suckle for some time. The anterior limbs are changed to paddles; the tail flukes are
horizontal. There are two living suborders: (a) The Mysticete or whalebone whales, having no true teeth
after birth, but with a series of plates of whalebone [see Baleen.] hanging down from the upper jaw on
each side, thus making a strainer, through which they receive the small animals upon which they feed.
(b) The Denticete, including the dolphins and sperm whale, which have teeth. Another suborder (Zeuglodontia)
is extinct. The Sirenia were formerly included in the Cetacea, but are now made a separate
(Ce*ta"cean) n. (Zoöl.) One of the Cetacea.
(Ce*ta"ceous) a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Cetacea.
(||Ce"te) n. [L., pl.] (Zoöl.) One of the Cetacea, or collectively, the Cetacea.
(Ce"tene) n. [See Cete.] (Chem.) An oily hydrocarbon, C16H32, of the ethylene series, obtained
(Cet"e*rach) n. [F. cétérac, fr. Ar. shetrak.] (Bot.) A species of fern with fronds (Asplenium
(Cet"e*wale) n. [OF. citoal, F. zedoaire. See Zedoary.] Same as Zedoary. [Obs.] Chaucer.
(Ce"tic) a. Of or pertaining to a whale.
(Ce"tin) n. [L. cetus whale.] (Chem.) A white, waxy substance, forming the essential part of
(Ce`to*log"ic*al) a. Of or pertaining to cetology.
(Ce*tol"o*gist) a. One versed in cetology.
(Ce*tol"o*gy) n. [Gr. whale + -logy: cf. F. cétologie.] The description or natural history of
Cetraric acid. See Cetrarin.
(Ce*trar"ic) a. Pertaining to, or derived from, the lichen, Iceland moss (Cetaria Islandica).
(Cet"ra*rin) n. [From Cetraria Islandica, the scientific name of Iceland moss.] (Chem.) A
white substance extracted from the lichen, Iceland moss It consists of several ingredients, among which
is cetraric acid, a white, crystalline, bitter substance.
(Ce"tyl) n. [Gr. whale + -yl.] (Chem.) A radical, C16H33, not yet isolated, but supposed to exist
in a series of compounds homologous with the ethyl compounds, and derived from spermaceti.
Cetylic alcohol (Chem.), a white, waxy, crystalline solid, obtained from spermaceti, and regarded as
homologous with ordinary, or ethyl, alcohol; ethal; called also cetyl alcohol.
(Ce*tyl"ic) a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or derived from, spermaceti.
(Cey"lan*ite) n. [F., fr. Ceylan Ceylon.] (Min.) A dingy blue, or grayish black, variety of
spinel. It is also called pleonaste. [Written also ceylonite.]
(Cey`lon*ese") a. Of or pertaining to Ceylon. n. sing. & pl. A native or natives of Ceylon.