guano
Americannoun
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a natural manure composed chiefly of the excrement of sea birds, found especially on islands near the Peruvian coast.
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any similar substance, as an artificial fertilizer made from fish.
noun
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the dried excrement of fish-eating sea birds, deposited in rocky coastal regions of South America: contains the urates, oxalates, and phosphates of ammonium and calcium; used as a fertilizer
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the accumulated droppings of bats and seals
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any similar but artificial substance used as a fertilizer
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A substance composed chiefly of the dung of sea birds or bats, accumulated along certain coastal areas or in caves and used as fertilizer.
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Any of various similar substances, such as a fertilizer prepared from ground fish parts.
Etymology
Origin of guano
First recorded in 1595–1605; from Spanish: “fertilizer, dung”; Latin American Spanish huano “dung,” from Quechua wanu “dung for fuel, fertilizer”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The results strongly suggest the crops were fertilized with seabird guano, which is rich in nitrogen because seabirds feed on marine life.
From Science Daily • Mar. 7, 2026
"Our evidence suggests guano was central to the Chincha Kingdom's success, with the Chincha's maritime knowledge and access to the Chincha Islands likely reframing their strategic importance in the region."
From Science Daily • Mar. 7, 2026
The latter elements suggest the hearth was intentionally sealed with a mixture of guano and sand, which can protect plant materials within the hearth from catching fire—conditions needed to create tar.
From Science Magazine • Nov. 22, 2024
Their guano, or dung, can also be used as fertilizer.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 31, 2024
“Fascinating,” he muttered, scraping at some petrified guano with the stubby end of his pen.
From "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
