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Glite Dictionary
groyne

groyne

1 9.9
A low stone or concrete wall that sticks out from a beach to stop the sea from washing away sand
  • noun
  • /ɡrɔɪn/
  • UK
translation icon : espigón
  • Visitors often enjoy walking along the groyne while observing the waves.

Examples

  • The construction of the groyne helped to reduce coastal erosion during storms.

  • Here we can see the hole in the groyne where Christ's new leg would have been attached.

  • The new groyne was built to protect the beach from rising sea levels.

Synonyms

seawall
vsgroyne
  • Specialized
14 3.9

A strong wall built along the shore to protect land from the sea

juts out from the beach to interrupt water and limit sediment movement
jetty
vsgroyne
10 5.1

A long wall that goes from the shore into the sea to protect the coast from waves

is shorter and mainly interrupts water to trap or stop sediment
breakwater
vsgroyne
  • Specialized
5 6.4

A wall built out into the sea to protect a coast or harbor from waves

is built instead to stop water flow and trap moving sediment
mole
vsgroyne
  • UK
1 7.7

A long stone or concrete wall built out from the shore to stop strong waves

is a lower, smaller barrier that interrupts water to limit sediment movement
groin
vsgroyne
  • Specialized
1 9.1

A wall built from the shore into the sea to stop sand washing away

is the alternate form used for the same structure

How Protective

seawall
  • Specialized
14 3.9
breakwater
  • Specialized
5 6.4
jetty
10 5.1
groyne
  • UK
1 9.9

Surface Forms

groyne singular
groynes plural

Etymology

Groyne comes from the French word groin, which means 'snout' or 'nose'. A groyne sticks out from the beach like a snout into the sea, so it stops water from washing the sand away and helps sand collect, which is why people build groynes to protect the shore.