noun
1. : one of the largest of sharks ( Cetorhinus maximus ) attaining a length of 40 feet, commonly lying at the surface of the water basking in the sun and feeding on plankton which it strains from the water by means of gill rakers, the water straining out through very long gill slits and the minute teeth being nearly functionless, and being of commercial interest because of its immense liver which yields large quantities of oil
2. : whale shark