lagoon

American  

[luh-goon] / ləˈgun /

noun

1. an area of shallow water separated from the sea by low sandy dunes.

2. Also lagune any small, pondlike body of water, especially one connected with a larger body of water.

3. an artificial pool for storage and treatment of polluted or excessively hot sewage, industrial waste, etc.

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lagoon British  

/ ləˈɡuːn /

noun

1. a body of water cut off from the open sea by coral reefs or sand bars

2. any small body of water, esp one adjoining a larger one

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lagoon Scientific  

/ lə-go̅o̅n′ /

1. A shallow body of salt water close to the sea but separated from it by a narrow strip of land, such as a barrier island, or by a coral reef.

2. A shallow pond or lake close to a larger lake or river but separated from it by a barrier such as a levee.

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Other Word Forms

• lagoonal adjective

Etymology

Origin of lagoon

1605–15; earlier laguna (singular), lagune (plural) < Italian < Latin lacūna (singular), lacūnae (plural) “ditch, pool,” akin to lacus basin, lake ¹; lacuna

Example Sentences

All structures built within 100 metres of transmission lines that cut over the lagoon were marked for removal.

From Barron's

Meanwhile, in Texas, Discovery Land Company's upcoming residential Austin Surf Club is centred around a vast man-made surf lagoon.

From BBC

“When we started going, there would be 400 adult whales in the lagoon, including 100 moms and their babies,” he told me.

From Los Angeles Times

Our little makeshift ark hadn’t washed away in the night lagoon, much to our collective relief.

From Los Angeles Times

A few years ago, those boats were filled with tourists – many from China – drawn to Palau's lagoons and limestone caves.

From BBC

Related Words

• bayou
• pond
• pool