Sea of Cortes
- proper noun
:
Mar de Cortés
- Many marine biologists conduct research in the Sea of Cortes due to its rich biodiversity.
Examples
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The yacht sailed along the coast of the Sea of Cortes during the summer expedition.
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Tourists are drawn to the Sea of Cortes for its stunning views and unique wildlife.
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The Sea of Cortes is known for its diverse marine life.
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Have you ever visited the Sea of Cortes?
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Many marine biologists conduct research in the Sea of Cortes due to its rich biodiversity.
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The yacht sailed along the coast of the Sea of Cortes during the summer expedition.
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Tourists are drawn to the Sea of Cortes for its stunning views and unique wildlife.
Synonyms
1
3.0
A long narrow sea between the Baja California Peninsula and the mainland of northwestern Mexico
Surface Forms
Morphology
The structure 'sea of Cortes' is compositional: 'sea' (a body of saltwater) + 'of' + a proper name, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will understand it denotes a sea associated with Cortes (i.e., a named body of water). This possessive/naming pattern is cross-linguistically common; while precise geographic knowledge (Gulf of California) requires world knowledge, the basic meaning is transparently derived from the parts.
Etymology
Sea of Cortes was named after the Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés, who sailed along Mexico's coast in the 1500s. That is why the sea is also called the 'Gulf of California' today.