manta

noun

man·​ta ˈman-tə 

1

: a square piece of cloth or blanket used in the southwestern U.S. and Latin America usually as a cloak or shawl

2

[American Spanish, from Spanish; from its shape] : manta ray

Synonyms of manta

• ray

Examples of manta in a Sentence

a manta glided along the sea bottom

Recent Examples on the Web

The water was sparkly and glittery thanks to the bright sunrays shining through, and one manta even flipped out of the ocean right in front of me. — Annie Daly, Vogue, 11 Aug. 2026

Divers captured video footage of Galápagos sharks approaching manta rays and deliberately rubbing parts of their bodies, especially their heads, gill regions and sides, against the mantas’ undersides. — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

The resident Manta Trust team has catalogued 150 individual rays and uses the world's first underwater contactless ultrasound scanner to check on pregnant mantas, while the Olive Ridley Project leads turtle research across Laamu Atoll. — Jonny Bierman, Time, 12 Mar. 2026

The mantas are still spotted in May and October, but in fewer numbers. — Taylor McIntyre, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, alteration of manto cloak, from Late Latin mantus, probably back-formation from Latin mantellum mantle

First Known Use

1697, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing manta

• manta ray

Rhymes for manta

• planta
• santa
• atalanta