Manatee
noun
noun ·3 syllables ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any of several plant-eating marine mammals, of the genus Trichechus, found in tropical regions.
"The ecological importance of the manatee is clear; scientists have demonstrated the dependancy of all components of an ecosystem on one another . . ."
- 2 sirenian mammal of tropical coastal waters of America; the flat tail is rounded wordnet
Antonyms
All antonymsExample
More examples"An infant manatee rescued off the coast of Florida over the weekend is being treated at Miami Seaquarium."
Etymology
Borrowed from Spanish manatí, from a Cariban-language term meaning ‘breast’, ultimately from Proto-Cariban *manatɨ; compare Kari'na manaty, Trió manatï, Apalaí manaty, Akawaio manatï, Pemon manatü, Macushi manatî.