madrepore

[ mad-ruh-pawr, -pohr ]

noun

1. any true or stony coral of the order Madreporaria, forming reefs or islands in tropical seas.

madrepore

/ ˌmædrɪpəˈrɪtɪk; ˌmædrɪˈpɒrɪk; ˌmædrɪˈpɔː /

noun

1. any coral of the genus Madrepora, many of which occur in tropical seas and form large coral reefs: order Zoantharia

Derived Forms

• ˌmadreˈporal, adjective

Other Words From

• mad·re·por·ic [mad-r, uh, -, pawr, -ik, -, por, -], mad·re·po·ri·an [mad-r, uh, -, pawr, -ee-, uh, n, -, pohr, -], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of madrepore¹

1745–55; < French madrépore reef-building coral < Italian madrepora, equivalent to madre mother (< Latin māter ) + -pora, for poro < Greek pôros kind of stone

Word History and Origins

Origin of madrepore¹

C18: via French from Italian madrepora mother-stone, from madre mother + -pora, from Latin porus or Greek poros calcareous stone, stalactite

Example Sentences

I could observe groups and clusters of coloured coral and madrepore-stone, whose magnificence challenges all description.

From Project Gutenberg

The madrepore corals are called reef-builders, but not in the sense of constructors of reefs.

From Project Gutenberg

Third picture: in shallow seas have sprung up isles of madrepore; a cluster of palm trees overhangs them here and there.

From Project Gutenberg

Many of these limestones owe their beauty to the fossil corals which they contain, and are hence known as “madrepore marbles.”

From Project Gutenberg

Those here are of reddish variegated, hardened sandstone, with madrepore holes in it.

From Project Gutenberg