barrier reef

noun

1. a reef of coral running roughly parallel to the shore and separated from it by a wide, deep lagoon.

barrier reef

noun

1. a long narrow coral reef near and lying parallel to the shore, separated from it by deep water See Great Barrier Reef

barrier reef

1. A long, narrow ridge of coral that runs parallel to the mainland and is separated from it by a deep lagoon.
2. Compare atoll

Word History and Origins

Origin of barrier reef¹

First recorded in 1795–1805

Example Sentences

That goes for the different types of reefs, including barrier reefs, atolls, lagoon reefs, and shallow fringing reefs.

From Nautilus

I was out, maybe in the Great Barrier Reef catching black marlin.

From The Daily Beast

The light came, touching with silver the great, tumbling seas outside the barrier reef, but the seas were empty.

From Project Gutenberg

How I wish we were going down the east coast of Australia, inside the barrier-reef, instead of down the stormy west coast!

From Project Gutenberg

He had five fine boats, which are constantly at work inside the Great Barrier Reef.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus a barrier reef may be formed by the seaward growth of a fringing reef upon the talus of its sea face.

From Project Gutenberg

There is no encircling barrier reef, while the soundings are so regular as to exclude the existence of coral knolls.

From Project Gutenberg