1. a type of cargo ship with a rounded hull and deck designed to shed water easily
Usage: nautical; historical
2. a hill or ridge with a long, rounded shape resembling a whale’s back
Usage: geological

Examples

• The whaleback freighter was designed to carry iron ore across the Great Lakes.
• These distinctive ships had rounded decks that allowed waves to wash over them.
• The hikers climbed the whaleback ridge that dominated the landscape.
• From a distance, the smooth whaleback formation looked like a sleeping giant.
• The geological survey identified several whaleback hills in the region.
• Early whaleback vessels were an innovative solution to rough lake conditions.