eelgrass

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noun eel·grass \ ˈēl-ˌgras \

Definition of eelgrass

1 :a submerged long-leaved monocotyledonous marine plant (Zostera marina) that is found especially in coastal temperate waters and whose dried stems and leaves are used especially as packing material in woven goods

2 :tape grass

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Recent Examples of eelgrass from the Web

On Wednesday morning an egret perched at the water’s edge, darting into the shallows to hunt small fish flitting among the eelgrass.

— deborah sullivan brennan, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Parking lot becomes salt marsh in Del Mar wetland restoration," 17 July 2017
Instead of depending on walls alone to resist crashing waves, scientists are looking at more welcoming natural buffers of eelgrass, which lure water bugs, fish and birds, and shell reefs that support native oysters.

— National Geographic, "How the Bay Area Is Restoring Nature's Delicate Balance," 13 June 2017
The low tide exposes the craggy tops of oyster reefs and the waving tips of eelgrass.

— National Geographic, "How the Bay Area Is Restoring Nature's Delicate Balance," 13 June 2017
The reefs and the eelgrass are the first line of defense against the strong wave action predicted in global warming scenarios.

— National Geographic, "How the Bay Area Is Restoring Nature's Delicate Balance," 13 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'eelgrass.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.