kelp

noun

ˈkelp 

plural kelps or kelp

1

a

: any of various large marine brown algae that are large seaweeds (order Laminariales) growing in cool waters

Only canopy-forming kelp are visible on the sea surface.

—Glenn Scherer

Kelps grow fast, drawing on all the minerals and vitamins and nutrients they can from the watershed and the sun.

—Zachariah Bryan

… thickets of kelp forming submarine forests in the bay.

—Jeff Phillips

see also bladder kelp, bull kelp, giant kelp

b

: a mass or growth of large seaweeds

The kelp near the outer islands teems with marine plants and animals in far greater abundance than it does closer to the coast …

—John L. Stein

2

a

: a blade (see blade entry 1 sense 2e) of kelp that is usually dried and used as food (as in sushi or soups)

b

: a dietary supplement containing processed kelp

c

: the ashes of seaweed used formerly especially as a source of iodine

Examples of kelp in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In this Oscar-winning documentary, filmmaker Craig Foster free-dives daily in a South African kelp forest to follow a single cephalopod over a year. —Boutayna Chokrane, Wired News, 22 Apr. 2025

The Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary protects beaches and shorelines, and also extends 60 miles into the Pacific Ocean, safeguarding a variety of flora, like dense kelp forests, and fauna, including leopard and horn sharks, blue whales, and black abalone. —Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2025

That article discussed disappearing kelp forests — for unknown reasons — off La Jolla. —Bill Tippets, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2025

The Pacific Ocean subtly makes its way into the decor of the 167 guest rooms and suites, where rugs and table lamps in muted greens and turquoise evoke kelp forests, and fluffy robes feature green seashell prints. —Jennifer Flowers, AFAR Media, 3 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English culp

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing kelp

• bladder kelp
• bull kelp
• giant bladder kelp
• giant kelp
• kelp bass

Rhymes for kelp

• help
• skelp
• whelp
• yelp

Kids Definition

kelp

noun

ˈkelp 

: any of various large brown seaweeds

also : a mass of these

Medical Definition

kelp

noun

ˈkelp 

1

: any of various large marine brown algae that are large seaweeds (order Laminariales) growing in cool waters

2

a

: a dietary supplement containing processed kelp

b

: the ashes of seaweed used formerly especially as a source of iodine