wetland

American  

[wet-land] / ˈwɛtˌlænd /

noun

1. Often wetlands. land that has a wet and spongy soil, as a marsh, swamp, or bog.

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wetland British  

/ ˈwɛtlənd /

noun

1. (sometimes plural)

   1. an area of swampy or marshy land, esp considered as part of an ecological system

   2. ( as modifier )

      wetland species

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wetland Scientific  

/ wĕt′lănd′ /

1. A low-lying area of land that is saturated with moisture, especially when regarded as the natural habitat of wildlife. Marshes, swamps, and bogs are examples of wetlands.

2. See more at lacustrine marine palustrine riverine

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Closer Look

Wetlands are areas such as swamps, bogs, and marshes where water either covers the soil or is present at or near the surface, particularly in the root zone, at least a good portion of the year, including the growing season. In the past, wetlands were generally considered unproductive or undesirable lands—smelly and unhealthful, a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other pests—and many were filled in to create farmland or to develop land for housing and industrial use. More than half of the original wetlands in the continental United States have disappeared in the name of reclamation, disease prevention, and flood control. Scientists now realize that, far from being noxious barrens, wetlands play a key role in the ecosystem. They act as filters, removing pollutants, including metals, from waters. They serve as reservoirs, and they aid flood and erosion control by absorbing excess water. Wetlands are home to a great variety of plant and animal species, some endangered, that have evolved to live in the wetland's unique conditions. The preservation and, where possible, restoration of these vital habitats has become a primary goal of environmentalists around the world.

Etymology

Origin of wetland

First recorded in 1770–80; wet + -land

Example Sentences

Claire Barrett from Nattergal, which runs the site, said: "The beavers will be our nature engineers and create an amazing complex of wetland habitats which bring in other species to enjoy the landscape."

From BBC

In regions such as the Amazon Basin, the Congo Basin, and the wetlands of Southeast Asia, thick layers of partially decomposed plant material build up over time.

From Science Daily

When I was 12, we moved to the outskirts of Newport Beach, to a condo apartment that faced a wetland.

From The Wall Street Journal

Where tall acacias once cast cool shade over a wetland just upstream from the confluence of the Blue and White Nile, barren ground now lies exposed, criss-crossed by people gathering whatever wood remains.

From Barron's

In these wetlands, environmental NGO Matter of Trust is testing human hair as a tool to reduce pollution and improve soil health.

From Barron's

Related Words

• bog
• glade