mangrove

[ mang-grohv, man- ]

noun

1. any tropical tree or shrub of the genus Rhizophora, the species of which are mostly low trees growing in marshes or tidal shores, noted for their interlacing above-ground adventitious roots.
2. any of various similar plants.

mangrove

/ ˈmæŋɡrəʊv; ˈmæn- /

noun

1. 1. any tropical evergreen tree or shrub of the genus Rhizophora, having stiltlike intertwining aerial roots and growing below the highest tide levels in estuaries and along coasts, forming dense thickets: family Rhizophoraceae
   2. ( as modifier )

      mangrove swamp

2. any of various similar trees or shrubs of the genus Avicennia: family Avicenniaceae

Word History and Origins

Origin of mangrove¹

First recorded in 1605–15; alteration (by folk etymology) of earlier mangrow, from Portuguese mangue, ultimately derived from Taíno

Word History and Origins

Origin of mangrove¹

C17 mangrow (changed through influence of grove ), from Portuguese mangue, ultimately from Taino

Example Sentences

Furry friends are welcome on the grounds surrounding the visitor center, where you’ll find mangroves and vistas of several small keys.

From Outside Online

Coastal mangrove forests are carbon storage powerhouses, tucking away vast amounts of organic matter among their submerged, tangled root webs.

From Science News

As sea levels have slowly risen over the last 8,000 years, mangroves have kept pace, climbing atop sediment ported in from rivers or migrating inland.

From Science News

In the past half-century, more than a quarter of the world’s mangroves have been destroyed — drained for development, converted for shrimp farms, poisoned by fertilizer and drowned by dammed-up streams.

From Washington Post

Activists who seek to protect the mangroves have found themselves the target of harassment, lawsuits and physical violence.

From Washington Post

At the bottom of Knocker's Bay is a shoal mangrove opening, of no importance.

From Project Gutenberg

It is on the edge of the mangrove swamp, and is reached by a sort of causeway of turf.

From Project Gutenberg

The characteristic trees of the coast regions are the mangrove and coco-nut palm.

From Project Gutenberg

Tannin is also important and is employed to some extent in the Philippines, being generally obtained from the mangrove tan barks.

From Project Gutenberg

We passed vast numbers of the Florida cormorants—a small species, which breeds in the mangrove islets.

From Project Gutenberg