mako
Americannoun
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makos
plural
noun
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any shark of the genus Isurus, esp I. glaucus of Indo-Pacific and Australian seas: family Isuridae
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the teeth of the mako worn as a decoration by early Māoris
noun
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Also called: wineberry. a small evergreen New Zealand tree, Aristotelia serrata: family Elaeocarpaceae
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another name for bellbird
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of mako
Borrowed into English from Maori around 1720–30
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Around 7:30 a.m. his hook caught a shortfin mako shark.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026
This group includes familiar species such as the great white shark, basking shark, and mako shark.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 8, 2026
Another, filmed in Tunisia, shows heads and fins of what appears to be a short-finned mako shark, which is also a threatened and protected species, being prepared for sale.
From BBC ● Dec. 29, 2025
At lunch one day I have another encounter with mako.
From National Geographic ● Jul. 17, 2023
That the mako was not enjoying the treatment was evident from the way it was twisting and turning and beating its tail and reaching with its mouth.
From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel
The fins, bound for Asia, came from more than 10,000 blue sharks and shortfin makos.
From National Geographic ● Jul. 17, 2023
Although trade in shortfin makos is restricted, these endangered sharks also die when they are accidentally hooked.
From Science Magazine ● Feb. 1, 2023
Isurus oxyrinchus has also been found in warm and temperate waters and juveniles makos "are common in southern California during the summer months."
From Fox News ● Nov. 4, 2019
What sort of organism?: A shark distantly related to today's great whites and makos.
From Scientific American ● Jan. 14, 2018
I caught a number of small sharks, blue sharks for the most part, but some makos too.
From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel
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