mahogany

noun ma·hog·a·ny \ mə-ˈhä-gə-nē \

|Updated on: 20 Jun 2018

Definition of mahogany

plural mahoganies

1 : the wood of any of various chiefly tropical trees (family Meliaceae, the mahogany family):

a (1) : the durable yellowish-brown to reddish-brown usually moderately hard and heavy wood of a West Indian tree (Swietenia mahagoni) that is widely used for cabinetwork and fine finish work

(2) : a wood similar to mahogany from a congeneric tropical American tree (especially S. macrophylla)

b (1) : the rather hard heavy usually odorless wood of any of several African trees (genus Khaya)

(2) : the rather lightweight cedar-scented wood of any of several African trees (genus Entandrophragma) that varies in color from pinkish to deep reddish brown

2 : any of various woods resembling or substituted for mahogany obtained from trees of the mahogany family

3 : a tree that yields mahogany

4 : a moderate reddish brown

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Recent Examples of mahogany from the Web

The attention to detail is outstanding, with beautiful mahogany wood that compliments the color scheme.

— mark phelan, Detroit Free Press, "These 10 new cars and trucks have the best interiors," 27 May 2018
Carve 07, her latest chair for Gervasoni, has a mahogany back with circles of different sizes punched out, an unexpected detail in a piece that recalls African tribal stools.

— New York Times, "Trends in Design and Home Furnishings," 8 May 2018
The masculine details were brought in through leather upholstery, mahogany, and decorative objects.

— julie lasky, House Beautiful, "Playful Prints and Vintage Accents Give This Historic Home a Contemporary Update," 21 Nov. 2017
Becker enthuses, describing an herbaceous tomato-fennel-garlic broth cradling mahogany clams, scallops, and cod.

— ellen bhang, BostonGlobe.com, "At Shepard, a vibrant pink is a match for bouillabaisse," 22 May 2018
Double mahogany doors open into the double-height foyer with a polished limestone floor and a grand turning staircase.

— lisa zapalac, Houston Chronicle, "Tanglewood home offers amenities throughout," 20 May 2018
Oscar was the hotel’s public face, as essential to the atmosphere as the inlaid mahogany.

— rebecca dalzell, Smithsonian, "What Made Oscar Tschirky the King of Gilded Age New York," 25 Apr. 2018
The answer: a single-process mahogany hue that could be quickly and easily cared for with Hair Rules' Cleansing Cream ($30, hairrules.com) and Quench Conditioner ($30, hairrules.com).

— heather finn, Good Housekeeping, "Just 3 Makeup Products (and a New Hairdo!) Made This Mom Look Like a Whole New Woman," 11 May 2018
Most form low rounded mounds of foliage that can vary in color from deep mahogany to bright green, screaming gold and brilliant silver/blue.

— paul cappiello, The Courier-Journal, "Why your 'great garden intentions' should center around succulents," 11 May 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of mahogany

origin unknown

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1660

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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MAHOGANY Defined for English Language Learners

mahogany

noun

Definition of mahogany for English Language Learners

: a strong reddish-brown wood that is used especially for making furniture and that comes from several tropical trees; also : a tree that produces this wood
: a reddish-brown color