manatee

Valid in Scrabble

Scrabble points: 9
Words With Friends: 11
Letters: 7

Pronunciation

/ˈmæn.əˌtiː/ (UK)

Definition of manatee

1 sense · 1 part of speech · etymology included

noun

A mostly herbivorous sirenian of the genus Trichechus, having a paddle-like tail and nails on their flippers, found in tropical regions.

“The ecological importance of the manatee is clear; scientists have demonstrated the dependancy^([sic]) of all components of an ecosystem on one another […]”

Definitions from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish manatí, from a Cariban-language term meaning ‘breast’, ultimately from Proto-Cariban *manatɨ; compare Kari'na manaty, Trió manatï, Apalaí manaty, Akawaio manatï, Pemon manatü, Macushi manatî.