marine
- of or relating to the sea; existing in or produced by the sea: marine vegetation.
- pertaining to navigation or shipping; nautical; naval; maritime.
- serving on shipboard, as soldiers.
- of or belonging to the marines.
- adapted for use at sea: a marine barometer.
- a member of the U.S. Marine Corps.
- one of a class of naval troops serving both on shipboard and on land.
- seagoing ships collectively, especially with reference to nationality or class; shipping in general.
- a picture with a marine subject; seascape.
- naval affairs, or the department of a government, as in France, having to do with such affairs.
- dead marine, Australian Slang. an empty bottle of beer or spirits.
- tell it/that to the marines! I don't believe your story; I refuse to be fooled.
Origin of marine
Examples from the Web for marine
Contemporary Examples
The Navy and Marine Corps versions of the F-35 have differing configurations and rely on an external gun pod.
Among the scores of bystanders watching their small town turn into war zone was a Marine veteran who was close with Stone.
The Marine reservist then went after his ex-wife, Nicole Hill Stone.
Stone, according to Marine officials, served eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.
I met Klay, a Marine veteran of Iraq, in 2008 at a writing workshop for veterans run by New York University.
Historical Examples
"Anybody who knows anything about marine engines, follow me," he snapped.
The Cruise of the Dry DockT. S. Stribling
Of these, oyster or marine shells, burnt shale, and slag are most common.
American Rural HighwaysT. R. Agg
Out of the inanimate rocks had sprung the marine plants—the seaweeds.
The Meaning of EvolutionSamuel Christian Schmucker
It is said, the King is not satisfied with the new Minister of Marine.
Rogers was the local dealer in anchors and other marine ironwork.
Cap'n EriJoseph Crosby Lincoln
marine
- of, found in, or relating to the sea
- of or relating to shipping, navigation, etc
- of or relating to a body of seagoing troopsmarine corps
- of or relating to a government department concerned with maritime affairs
- used or adapted for use at seaa marine camera
- shipping and navigation in generalthe merchant marine
- (capital when part of a name) a member of a marine corps or similar body
- a picture of a ship, seascape, etc
- tell it to the marines informal an expression of disbelief
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for marine
adj.
early 15c., "pertaining to the sea," from Middle French marin, from Old French marin "of the sea, maritime," from Latin marinus "of the sea," from mare "sea, the sea, seawater," from PIE *mori- "body of water, lake" (see mere (n.)). The Old English word was sælic.
n.
14c., "seacoast;" see marine (adj.). Meaning "collective shipping of a country" is from 1660s. Meaning "soldier who serves on a ship" is from 1670s, a separate borrowing from French marine, from the French adjective. Phrase tell that to the marines (1806) originally was the first half of a retort expressing skepticism:
"Upon my soul, sir," answered the lieutenant, "when I thought she scorned my passion, I wept like a child."
"Belay there!" cried the captain; "you may tell that to the marines, but I'll be d----d if the sailors will believe it." ["John Moore," "The Post-Captain; or, the Wooden Walls Well Manned," 1805]
The book, a rollicking sea romance/adventure novel, was popular in its day and the remark is a recurring punch line in it (repeated at least four times). It was written by naval veteran John Davis (1774-1854) but published under the name John Moore. Walsh records that, "The marines are among the 'jolly' jack-tars a proverbially gullible lot, capable of swallowing any yarn, in size varying from a yawl-boat to a full-rigged frigate."
marine
- Relating to the sea.
- Relating to a system of open-ocean and unprotected coastal habitats, characterized by exposure to wave action, tidal fluctuation, and ocean currents and by the absence of trees, shrubs, or emergent vegetation. Water in the marine system is at or near the full salinity of seawater. Compare lacustrine palustrine riverine.