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cenote

[ suh-noh-tee ]

noun

  1. a deep natural well or sinkhole, especially in Central America, formed by the collapse of surface limestone that exposes groundwater underneath.


cenote

/ sɪˈnəʊteɪ /

noun

  1. (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
“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


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Word History and Origins

Origin of cenote1

First recorded in 1835–45; from Mexican Spanish, from Yucatec Mayan tz'onot
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Word History and Origins

Origin of cenote1

C19: via Mexican Spanish from Maya conot
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Example Sentences

Our study focused on two inland lagoons created by giant cenotes—natural sinkholes in the Yucatan’s limestone bedrock—near the Caribbean coast.

However, they were very distinct from other freshwater inland mangrove populations in cenotes on the Yucatan’s eastern coast along the Caribbean, and those populations are distinct in turn from other coastal mangroves.

Other, more immediate threats to the peninsula’s carbon-rich cenotes include groundwater pollution, expanding infrastructure, urbanization and tourism.

There are dozens of mangrove-lined sinkholes, or cenotes, on the peninsula.

Probably the swallows were nesting in the cenote although the nests were inaccessible to view.

For these the Mayan Indian name is "cenote," and they are often huge.

With him as our guide we visited a neighbouring cenote, the water supply of the ancient Indian city.

Dinny led on rapidly till they reached the turning in the direction of the old temple which contained the cenote.

The floor of this cenote is near the watertable but not below it.

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cenotaphCenozoic