manatee

[ man-uh-tee, man-uh-tee ]

/ ˈmæn əˌti, ˌmæn əˈti /

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noun

any of several plant-eating aquatic mammals of the genus Trichechus, of West Indian, Floridian, and Gulf Coast waters, having two flippers in front and a broad, spoon-shaped tail: all species are endangered.

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Origin of manatee

1545–55; <Spanish manatí<Carib, but associated with Latin manātus provided with hands

Words nearby manatee

Manassas, Manasseh, Manassite, Manat, man-at-arms, manatee, Manatí, manatu, Manaus, manavelins, manawa

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

How to use manatee in a sentence

These algal blooms ravage the waters, depleting oxygen, and choking off the seagrasses that manatees rely on to feed.
Wildlife officials are taking radical steps to save Florida’s starving manatees|Hannah Seo|December 8, 2021|Popular-Science
Boat strikes are usually the biggest culprit for manatee deaths, but starvation seems to have taken the lead.
Wildlife officials are taking radical steps to save Florida’s starving manatees|Hannah Seo|December 8, 2021|Popular-Science
Both seagrass and coral have a special importance in a variety of ecosystems, especially since both feed or house endangered species like some species of turtles, seahorses, and manatees.
Our meat habit is causing pollution issues—by way of our poops|Angely Mercado|November 13, 2021|Popular-Science
According to Oceanic Society, the habitat here is home to more than 500 fish species and 65 stony corals, as well as manatees, saltwater crocodiles and many other animals that may be encountered during a day’s adventures.
With covid protocols, a Caribbean fly-fishing haven is back in business|Chris Santella|April 2, 2021|Washington Post

Threatened Antillean manatees may be crowded out of their habitat by the aggressive newcomers.
Invasion of the hippos: Colombia is running out of time to tackle Pablo Escobar’s wildest legacy|Sarah Kaplan|January 11, 2021|Washington Post
To these we gave boiled rice, and with it turtle and manatee boiled.
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia] [Volume 2 of 2]|Phillip Parker King
And it was to jab harpoons and spears into porpoises and manatee and sawfish, and be dragged about in their boat.
Tales of Fishes|Zane Grey
By taking a creditable steamer at Cedar Keys, we can reach Manatee, the point of our destination.
Petals Plucked from Sunny Climes|Sylvia Sunshine
Let all those who dream of sand-hills, and only starvation staring them in the face while in Florida, come to Manatee.
Petals Plucked from Sunny Climes|Sylvia Sunshine
Those rhyme-writers never visited Manatee, where new-born roses open every day, and summer lingers all the year.
Petals Plucked from Sunny Climes|Sylvia Sunshine

British Dictionary definitions for manatee

manatee

/ (ˈmænəˌtiː, ˌmænəˈtiː) /

noun

any sirenian mammal of the genus Trichechus, occurring in tropical coastal waters of America, the Caribbean, and Africa: family Trichechidae. They resemble whales and have a prehensile upper lip and a broad flattened tail

Derived forms of manatee

manatoid, adjective

Word Origin for manatee

C16: via Spanish from Carib Manattouī

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