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.

Origin of cenote

1
First recorded in 1835–45; from Mexican Spanish, from Yucatec Mayan tz'onot

Words Nearby cenote

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use cenote in a sentence

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

    The American Egypt | Channing Arnold
  • With him as our guide we visited a neighbouring cenote, the water supply of the ancient Indian city.

    The American Egypt | Channing Arnold
  • 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
  • The floor of this cenote is near the watertable but not below it.

British Dictionary definitions for cenote

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

Origin of cenote

1
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