guano

noun

gua·​no ˈgwä-(ˌ)nō How to pronounce guano (audio)
: a fertilizer containing the accumulated excrement of seabirds or bats
broadly : excrement especially of seabirds or bats

Examples of guano in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In Antarctica, the birds’ nutrient-rich guano allows mosses and other organisms to flourish in an otherwise inhospitable place. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Mar. 2025 The team is also working on restoring the habitat across the island, which was stripped of all its vegetation during its time as an erstwhile guano mining spot. Tim Chester, AFAR Media, 17 Apr. 2025 According to the study, the guano’s byproducts accelerated the formation of clouds by 10,000 times. Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 May 2025 Finally, liquid bat guano and liquid earthworm castings (guano and castings are euphemisms for excrement) are also utilized for foliar fertilization. Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 14 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for guano

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Quechua wanu fertilizer, dung

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of guano was in 1604

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Guano.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guano. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

guano

noun
gua·​no ˈgwän-ō How to pronounce guano (audio)
: a substance composed chiefly of the excrement of seabirds or bats and used as a fertilizer

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