sargassum

American  

[sahr-gas-uhm] / sɑrˈgæs əm /

noun

1. any seaweed of the genus Sargassum, widely distributed in the warmer waters of the globe, as S. bacciferum, the common gulfweed.

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sargassum British  

/ sɑːˈɡæsəm, sɑːˈɡæsəʊ /

noun

1. any floating brown seaweed of the genus Sargassum, such as gulfweed, of warm seas, having ribbon-like fronds containing air sacs

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Etymology

Origin of sargassum

From New Latin, dating back to 1900–05; sargasso

Example Sentences

Massive amounts of sargassum washing onto Florida's coastline are not only affecting beachgoers, they are also creating a serious new barrier for young sea turtles.

From Science Daily

The idea that it could have a valuable purpose was suggested by one of her students, Brittney McKenzie, who had observed the volume of trucks being deployed to transport sargassum from Barbados’ beaches.

From BBC

Researchers have been working to track and study floating sargassum, a prolific seaweed swamping Caribbean and West African shorelines, and causing environmental and economic harm.

From Science Daily

A massive raft of floating seaweed called sargassum is headed toward the coasts of Mexico and the southern United States.

From NewsForKids.net

The shore, usually clogged this time of year with rotting clusters of seaweed, was pristine, no longer menaced by a huge sargassum blob that unexpectedly shrank last month in the Gulf of Mexico.

From New York Times