mangrove

1 of 2

noun (1)

man·​grove ˈman-ˌgrōv 

ˈmaŋ-

1

: any of a genus (Rhizophora, especially R. mangle of the family Rhizophoraceae) of tropical maritime trees or shrubs that send out many prop roots and form dense masses important in coastal land building and as foundations of unique ecosystems

2

: any of numerous trees (as of the genera Avicennia of the acanthus family or Sonneratia of the family Lythraceae) with growth habits like those of the true mangroves

mangrove swamp

2 of 2

noun (2)

variants or less commonly mangrove

: a brackish-water coastal swamp of tropical and subtropical areas that is usually dominated by shrubby halophytes and is partly inundated by tidal flow

Examples of mangrove in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

My personal favorites were the Rio Esquinas mangrove kayaking expedition and the rainforest hike to the property’s organic farm. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 June 2026

Days here naturally revolve around the water, from scouring the sand for shark teeth or perfecting your tan to kayaking through mangrove tunnels to searching for dolphins. —Kristy Tolley, Travel + Leisure, 10 June 2026

During a hurricane, leaf litter blown or washed out of the canopy ended up in the complex network of roots below, providing a pulse of nutrients that enhanced the production of new roots and hastened mangrove recovery. —John Kominoski, The Conversation, 10 June 2026

Visitors can also snorkel, kayak through mangroves, hit the village shops, hop the tiki bars, and enjoy sunset cruises on the Gulf. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

probably from Portuguese mangue mangrove (from Spanish mangle, probably from Taino) + English grove

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for mangrove

• alcove
• cove
• drove
• rove
• shrove
• stove
• strove
• throve
• trove
• wove

Kids Definition

mangrove

noun

man·​grove ˈman-ˌgrōv 

ˈmaŋ-

: any of various tropical trees or shrubs that grow many prop roots and form dense masses in somewhat salty marshes or shallow salt water