cenote

[suh-noh-tee]

noun

a deep natural well or sinkhole, especially in Central America, formed by the collapse of surface limestone that exposes ground water underneath, and sometimes used by the ancient Mayans for sacrificial offerings.

Origin of cenote

1835–45; < Mexican Spanish < Yucatec Mayan

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for cenote

Historical Examples of cenote

For these the Mayan Indian name is "cenote," and they are often huge.
The American Egypt
Channing Arnold
The floor of this cenote is near the watertable but not below it.
Summer Birds From the Yucatan Peninsula
Erwin E. Klaas
Dinny led on rapidly till they reached the turning in the direction of the old temple which contained the cenote.
Commodore Junk
George Manville Fenn
Probably the swallows were nesting in the cenote although the nests were inaccessible to view.
Summer Birds From the Yucatan Peninsula
Erwin E. Klaas

British Dictionary definitions for cenote

cenote

noun

(esp in the Yucatán peninsula) a natural well formed by the collapse of an overlying limestone crust: often used as a sacrificial site by the Mayas

Word Origin for cenote

C19: via Mexican Spanish from Maya conot

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012