cenote

[ suh-noh-tee ]

/ səˈnoʊ ti /

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noun

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

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Origin of cenote

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

Words nearby cenote

ceno-, cenobite, cenogenesis, cenospecies, cenotaph, cenote, Cenozoic, cense, censer, censor, censorious

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use cenote in a sentence

Our study focused on two inland lagoons created by giant cenotes—natural sinkholes in the Yucatan’s limestone bedrock—near the Caribbean coast.
This secret mangrove forest is unlike any other in the world|Sula E Vanderplank/The Conversation|October 19, 2021|Popular-Science
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.
This secret mangrove forest is unlike any other in the world|Sula E Vanderplank/The Conversation|October 19, 2021|Popular-Science
Other, more immediate threats to the peninsula’s carbon-rich cenotes include groundwater pollution, expanding infrastructure, urbanization and tourism.
Mangrove forests on the Yucatan Peninsula store record amounts of carbon|Carolyn Gramling|May 7, 2021|Science News
There are dozens of mangrove-lined sinkholes, or cenotes, on the peninsula.
Mangrove forests on the Yucatan Peninsula store record amounts of carbon|Carolyn Gramling|May 7, 2021|Science News

Probably the swallows were nesting in the cenote although the nests were inaccessible to view.
Summer Birds From the Yucatan Peninsula|Erwin E. Klaas
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.
Summer Birds From the Yucatan Peninsula|Erwin E. Klaas

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 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012