guano

American  

[gwah-noh] / ˈgwɑ noʊ /

noun

1. a natural manure composed chiefly of the excrement of sea birds, found especially on islands near the Peruvian coast.

2. any similar substance, as an artificial fertilizer made from fish.

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guano British  

/ ˈɡwɑːnəʊ /

noun

1. 1. the dried excrement of fish-eating sea birds, deposited in rocky coastal regions of South America: contains the urates, oxalates, and phosphates of ammonium and calcium; used as a fertilizer

   2. the accumulated droppings of bats and seals

2. any similar but artificial substance used as a fertilizer

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guano Scientific  

/ gwä′nō /

1. A substance composed chiefly of the dung of sea birds or bats, accumulated along certain coastal areas or in caves and used as fertilizer.

2. Any of various similar substances, such as a fertilizer prepared from ground fish parts.

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Etymology

Origin of guano

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Spanish: “fertilizer, dung”; Latin American Spanish huano “dung,” from Quechua wanu “dung for fuel, fertilizer”

Example Sentences

"Our work extends the known geographic extent of guano fertilization, echoing recent findings in northern Chile, and suggests soil management began at least around 800 years ago in Peru."

From Science Daily • Mar. 7, 2026

"Seabird guano may seem trivial, yet our study suggests this potent resource could have significantly contributed to sociopolitical and economic change in the Peruvian Andes," Dr. Bongers said.

From Science Daily • Mar. 7, 2026

Their guano, or dung, can also be used as fertilizer.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 31, 2024

Over 2 years, the apes ate guano at least 92 times on 71 different days, cementing the first report of wild primates eating bat guano.

From Science Magazine • Apr. 22, 2024

These bats were insect eaters, and the guano was an ooze of digested insects.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston

Related Words

• compost
• droppings
• dung
• excrement
• mulch