mangrove

Meaning

1. Any of various tropical and subtropical evergreen shrubs or trees chiefly of the Rhizophoraceae family that have aerial roots and grow in clumps in brackish intertidal coastal areas; (specifically) any of various trees of the genus Rhizophora, especially the red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle).
2. (broadly) A forest of such shrubs or trees.
3. (broadly) Preceded by a descriptive word: any of various shrubs or trees of genera other than Rhizophora which resemble plants of this genus in appearance and habitat.
4. (also, attributive, broadly) Synonym of mangal (“a tropical and subtropical coastal intertidal swampland ecosystem characterized by mangroves (sense 1) or similar shrubs and trees”).

Synonyms

Rhizophora mangle

baobab

mangrove swamp

banyan

genus Rhizophora

mangrove tree

Colorado grouper

Translations

mangue

mangle

mangrove

palétuvier

Rhizophora mucronata

Mangrovenbaum

mangle

Mangrove

Ceriops tagal

manglar

Xylocarpus moluccensis

Rhizophora

mangrove

manglar

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈmæŋɡɹəʊv/

Etymology

A modification of earlier mangrowe (obsolete) by the influence of grove (“small forest”) through folk etymology. Mangrowe is probably borrowed from Spanish mangle, mangue (whence English mangle) (probably from an Arawak language (such as Taíno), or a Cariban language) + an unknown word ending.