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noun

guano

GWAH-noh

Guano (noun) means the droppings of seabirds or bats, especially when collected and used as a fertilizer. Example: “Sailors once mined entire islands for their guano deposits.”

noun
1
The droppings of seabirds or bats, especially when collected and used as a fertilizer.
"Sailors once mined entire islands for their guano deposits."
"The cave floor was thick with bat guano."
verb
1
To spread guano on land as fertilizer.
"Farmers used to guano their fields before chemical fertilizers were common."

How to use guano

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishBird or bat droppings, historically prized as a natural fertilizer.

Common pairings
bat guano guano deposits seabird guano

Word forms

guanoed past tense, guanos plural, guanoes plural, guanos singular

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Test yourself on “guano” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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Sailors once mined entire islands for their _____ deposits.

Etymology

From Spanish guano, from a Quechua word for dung.

Origin: Spanish

Rhymes for guano

See all rhymes for guano →

Frequently asked questions

What does “guano” mean?

The word “guano” means the droppings of seabirds or bats, especially when collected and used as a fertilizer. In plain terms, bird or bat droppings, historically prized as a natural fertilizer.

How do you pronounce “guano”?

“Guano” is pronounced GWAH-noh (/ˈɡwɑːnəʊ/ in IPA).

How do you use “guano” in a sentence?

Here is “guano” used in a sentence: “Sailors once mined entire islands for their guano deposits.”

What part of speech is “guano”?

Depending on how it is used, “guano” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “guano” come from?

The word “guano” comes from Spanish. From Spanish guano, from a Quechua word for dung.

How many meanings does “guano” have?

“Guano” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the droppings of seabirds or bats, especially when collected and used as a fertilizer.

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