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manatee

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

noun

  1. 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.


manatee

/ ˈmænəˌtiː, ˌmænəˈtiː /

noun

  1. 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
“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


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Derived Forms

  • ˈmanaˌtoid, adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of manatee1

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

Origin of manatee1

C16: via Spanish from Carib Manattouī
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Compare Meanings

How does manatee compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

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Example Sentences

These algal blooms ravage the waters, depleting oxygen, and choking off the seagrasses that manatees rely on to feed.

Boat strikes are usually the biggest culprit for manatee deaths, but starvation seems to have taken the lead.

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.

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.

Threatened Antillean manatees may be crowded out of their habitat by the aggressive newcomers.

To these we gave boiled rice, and with it turtle and manatee boiled.

And it was to jab harpoons and spears into porpoises and manatee and sawfish, and be dragged about in their boat.

By taking a creditable steamer at Cedar Keys, we can reach Manatee, the point of our destination.

Let all those who dream of sand-hills, and only starvation staring them in the face while in Florida, come to Manatee.

Those rhyme-writers never visited Manatee, where new-born roses open every day, and summer lingers all the year.

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man-at-armsManatí