mangrove

noun

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

Examples of mangrove in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As vacationers pour into Port Canaveral to board cruise ships or spot manatees in the mangroves, few realize how much sensitive infrastructure sits just out of view. —Adam Ciralsky, Vanity Fair, 19 Mar. 2026

Our natural defenses such as mangroves and dunes must be fortified — not destroyed. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026

Centuries ago, the Maya cut a slender channel through dense mangrove forests to facilitate transportation between two technicolor lagoons. —Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026

The port has already planted acres of mangroves and sea grass and donated the land to the state of Florida to offset the habitat that would be destroyed during dredging. —Arkansas Online, 8 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for mangrove

• alcove
• clove
• 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