Definition of mangrove
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 vervain family or Sonneratia of the family Sonneratiaceae) with growth habits like those of the true mangroves
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Recent Examples of mangrove from the Web
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Although isolated residential areas are evident, most of Big Pine Key is preserved as pine forest, imperiled tropical hardwood hammocks, freshwater wetlands, salt marsh and mangrove.
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Her bridal beauty business, like the others at the pop-up, represents the economic link between protecting the mangroves — as nurseries of the island's fish stocks, tsunami buffers and CO2 sinks — and sustaining communities dependent on them.
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But it is felt as far away as Sri Lanka, where fishermen in the north say the tides have changed in the past two years, and at least 50 feet of new mangroves planted near Jaffna stand in parched dirt instead of being flooded by water.
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Along the shoreline, the county has undertaken significant mangrove restoration, while the city parks department has painstakingly removed exotic trees and plants and resuscitated an upland hammock that’s now traversed by a nature trail.
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This is produced by fish stocks, coral reefs, mangroves and other marine and coastal assets that have an economic value exceeding $24 trillion.
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Meanwhile, the UNDP has also helped set up a crab farming project in the Sindudurg area to encourage local preservation of the mangroves and resistance to land developers and those gathering firewood from chopping the saltwater-tolerant trees down.
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But the government has since created a financial incentive for shrimp farmers to replant the mangroves.
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Dr. Beach noted the blue heron and other birds that mingle in the mangroves.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mangrove.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of mangrove
probably from Portuguese mangue mangrove (from Spanish mangle, probably from Taino) + English grove
MANGROVE Defined for English Language Learners
mangrove
playDefinition of mangrove for English Language Learners
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: a tropical tree that has roots which grow from its branches and that grows in swamps or shallow salt water
Learn More about mangrove
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See words that rhyme with mangrove Spanish Central: Translation of mangrove Nglish: Translation of mangrove for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mangrove
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