sargassum

sar·gas·sum | \ sär-ˈga-səm

How to pronounce sargassum (audio)

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Definition of sargassum

: any of a genus (Sargassum) of brown algae that have a branching thallus with lateral outgrowths differentiated as leafy segments, air bladders, or spore-bearing structures : gulfweed

Examples of sargassum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Low sargassum is expected for Mexico’s Caribbean beaches in the months of May through July, said Navy Minister Jose Rafael Ojeda. — Lorena Rios, Dallas News, "Mexico’s economic reopening starts next week with Cancun, Tulum beaches," 1 June 2020 There are small schools of juvenile trigger and file fish, and other species darting around or just hiding within the sargassum. — Arwa Damon, CNN, "Microplastics discovered in 'extreme' concentrations in the North Atlantic," 19 Aug. 2019 Pszonowsky also said there haven’t been widespread reports of sargassum seaweed on beaches. — USA TODAY, "Rare elephant calf, two-headed rattlesnake, another quake off Oregon: News from around our 50 states," 6 Sep. 2019 Nutrient pollution could bolster competing species, like stringy sargassum, a nonnative macroalgae that Berry said has been found where South Puget Sound bull kelp beds once flourished. — Evan Bush, The Seattle Times, "Another vital forest at risk: Scientists fear warming water could be killing off Puget Sound’s kelp beds," 15 Sep. 2019 Areas that take hours to clean end up are covered in sargassum only hours later. — Andrea Navarro, BostonGlobe.com, "Cancun has a nasty seaweed problem, and tourists are staying away," 16 July 2019 But the sargassum is now home to objects wholly unnatural too. — Arwa Damon, CNN, "Microplastics discovered in 'extreme' concentrations in the North Atlantic," 19 Aug. 2019 The Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and Florida have been plagued with the sargassum algae for several years. — Andrea Navarro, BostonGlobe.com, "Cancun has a nasty seaweed problem, and tourists are staying away," 16 July 2019 Journey Mexico has a blog with updates on Mexico beach sargassum levels. — Adrienne Jordan, USA TODAY, "Should you travel this summer to Mexico amid safety, algae and political concerns?," 12 June 2019

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

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Cite this Entry

“Sargassum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sargassum. Accessed 29 Oct. 2020.

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