cenote
[ suh-noh-tee ]
/ səˈnoʊ ti /
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.
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Origin of cenote
1835–45; < Mexican Spanish < Yucatec Mayan
Words nearby cenote
cenobite, cenogenesis, cenosite, cenospecies, cenotaph, cenote, cenozoic, cense, censer, censor, censorious
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for cenote
For these the Mayan Indian name is "cenote," and they are often huge.
The American Egypt|Channing ArnoldThe floor of this cenote is near the watertable but not below it.
Summer Birds From the Yucatan Peninsula|Erwin E. KlaasProbably the swallows were nesting in the cenote although the nests were inaccessible to view.
Summer Birds From the Yucatan Peninsula|Erwin E. KlaasDinny led on rapidly till they reached the turning in the direction of the old temple which contained the cenote.
Commodore Junk|George Manville Fenn
British Dictionary definitions for cenote
cenote
/ (sɪˈnəʊteɪ) /
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
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