ˈmaŋˌgrōv, -anˌ- noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: probably from Portuguese mangue (from Spanish mangle, from Taino) + English grove
1. : a tropical maritime tree or shrub of the genus Rhizophora (especially R. mangle ) bearing fruit that germinates while still on the tree with the hypocotyl growing to a considerable length before detachment and having numerous prop roots that ultimately form an impenetrable mass and play an important role in land building
2. : any of various other plants that resemble the mangrove ; specifically : a tree of the genus Avicennia — see black mangrove
3. or mangrove cutch : cutch I 2