noun
maru
MAH-roo
Maru (noun) means a traditional suffix or name given to Japanese ships, especially merchant vessels. Example: “The cargo ship was named the Fuji Maru.”
noun
1
A traditional suffix or name given to Japanese ships, especially merchant vessels.
"Does the 9th Fleet have enough marus and warships to carry two divisions of troops and their supplies to Buna?"
— Lawrence Cortesi, Valor in the Sky (1985)
"The cargo ship was named the Fuji Maru."
How to use maru
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA naming convention attached to Japanese ships, roughly like calling a ship "the ___."
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Word forms
- Plural
- marus
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The cargo ship was named the Fuji _____.
Etymology
From Japanese maru, meaning "circle," traditionally used as a suffix in ship names.
Rhymes for maru
See all rhymes for maru →Frequently asked questions
What does “maru” mean?
The word “maru” means a traditional suffix or name given to Japanese ships, especially merchant vessels. In plain terms, a naming convention attached to Japanese ships, roughly like calling a ship "the ___.".
How do you pronounce “maru”?
“Maru” is pronounced MAH-roo (/ˈmɑɹu/ in IPA).
How do you use “maru” in a sentence?
Here is “maru” used in a sentence: “The cargo ship was named the Fuji Maru.”
What part of speech is “maru”?
“Maru” is a noun.
Where does the word “maru” come from?
The word “maru” comes from Japanese. From Japanese maru, meaning "circle," traditionally used as a suffix in ship names.
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