marine

[ muh-reen ]

adjective

1. of or relating to the sea; existing in or produced by the sea:

   marine vegetation.

2. pertaining to navigation or shipping; nautical; naval; maritime.
3. serving on shipboard, as soldiers.
4. of or belonging to the marines.
5. adapted for use at sea:

   a marine barometer.

noun

1. a member of the U.S. Marine Corps.
2. one of a class of naval troops serving both on shipboard and on land.
3. seagoing ships collectively, especially with reference to nationality or class; shipping in general.
4. a picture with a marine subject; seascape.
5. naval affairs, or the department of a government, as in France, having to do with such affairs.

marine

/ məˈriːn /

adjective

1. of, found in, or relating to the sea
2. of or relating to shipping, navigation, etc
3. of or relating to a body of seagoing troops

   marine corps

4. of or relating to a government department concerned with maritime affairs
5. used or adapted for use at sea

   a marine camera

noun

1. shipping and navigation in general

   the merchant marine

2. capital when part of a name a member of a marine corps or similar body
3. a picture of a ship, seascape, etc
4. tell it to the marines informal.
   an expression of disbelief

marine

/ mə-rēn′ /

1. Relating to the sea.
2. Relating to a system of open-ocean and unprotected coastal habitats, characterized by exposure to wave action, tidal fluctuation, and ocean currents and by the absence of trees, shrubs, or emergent vegetation. Water in the marine system is at or near the full salinity of seawater.
3. Compare lacustrine

Other Words From

• inter·ma·rine adjective
• nonma·rine adjective noun
• semi·ma·rine adjective noun
• super·ma·rine adjective
• unma·rine adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of marine¹

1325–75; Middle English maryne < Middle French marin (feminine marine ) < Latin marīnus of the sea, derivative of mare sea; -ine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of marine¹

C15: from Old French marin, from Latin marīnus, from mare sea

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. tell it / that to the marines! I don't believe your story; I refuse to be fooled.
2. dead marine, Australian Slang. an empty bottle of beer or spirits.

Example Sentences

A concern is that brine has more saline than seawater, giving it the potential to disrupt marine life in sensitive areas.

From Science Daily

In it, they explain the molecular mechanism of regeneration in marine worms and thus create a better understanding of the natural reprogramming ability of cells.

From Science Daily

Trump sharply reduced the boundaries of two monuments in Utah — Bear’s Ears and Grand Staircase — and stripped protections from a marine monument off the coast of New England to allow commercial fishing.

From Los Angeles Times

In the case of semi-industrial fishing, they report that vessels fish within the three-nautical-mile zone and in marine protected areas reserved for artisanal fishing.

From Science Daily

She told the court Mr MacDonald, a marine engineer, was on sick leave after suffering a back injury in spring 2022 when he visited osteopath Mr MacKenzie.

From BBC

Related Words

• aquatic
• coastal
• deep-sea
• maritime
• naval
• saltwater
• seagoing