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noun

manatee

MAN-uh-tee

Manatee (noun) means a large, slow-moving plant-eating aquatic mammal (genus Trichechus) with a paddle-shaped tail, found in warm coastal waters and rivers. Example: “Manatees graze peacefully on seagrass in Florida's warm springs.”

noun
1
A large, slow-moving plant-eating aquatic mammal (genus Trichechus) with a paddle-shaped tail, found in warm coastal waters and rivers.
"Manatees graze peacefully on seagrass in Florida's warm springs."
"Boat strikes are one of the biggest threats to manatees."

How to use manatee

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA gentle, plant-eating sea mammal sometimes nicknamed the "sea cow."

Common pairings
manatee sanctuary manatee zone a manatee calf

Word forms

manatees plural, manatee plural

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

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____ graze peacefully on seagrass in Florida's warm springs.

Etymology

Borrowed via Spanish manatí from a Caribbean indigenous language, where the root word meant "breast."

Origin: Spanish

Rhymes for manatee

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Frequently asked questions

What does “manatee” mean?

The word “manatee” means a large, slow-moving plant-eating aquatic mammal (genus Trichechus) with a paddle-shaped tail, found in warm coastal waters and rivers. In plain terms, a gentle, plant-eating sea mammal sometimes nicknamed the "sea cow.".

How do you pronounce “manatee”?

“Manatee” is pronounced MAN-uh-tee (/ˈmæn.əˌtiː/ in IPA).

How do you use “manatee” in a sentence?

Here is “manatee” used in a sentence: “Manatees graze peacefully on seagrass in Florida's warm springs.”

What part of speech is “manatee”?

“Manatee” is a noun.

Where does the word “manatee” come from?

The word “manatee” comes from Spanish. Borrowed via Spanish manatí from a Caribbean indigenous language, where the root word meant "breast.".

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