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gulfweed

gulfweed

9.9
A brown seaweed with round air sacs that floats in large patches in warm Atlantic waters
  • noun
  • /ˈɡʌlfˌwiːd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : sargazo
  • Massive patches of gulfweed floated on the ocean's surface near the Sargasso Sea.

Examples

  • Sailors reported that their ship became entangled in thick gulfweed during the crossing.

  • Many marine creatures find food and shelter among the drifting gulfweed in tropical waters.

  • Look at that large patch of gulfweed over there!

  • The gulfweed floats gracefully on the water's surface.

  • Many marine creatures find food and shelter among the drifting gulfweed in tropical waters.

  • Massive patches of gulfweed floated on the ocean's surface near the Sargasso Sea.

  • Sailors reported that their ship became entangled in thick gulfweed during the crossing.

Synonyms

seaweed
vsgulfweed
41 1.0

A plant that grows in the sea, often in long green or brown sheets

is a specific floating brown variety rather than any marine plant
sargassum
vsgulfweed
1 9.9

Brown seaweed with small air bubbles that forms large floating mats

is a particular local form rather than the broader group
sargasso
vsgulfweed
1 9.9

Brown seaweed that floats in large mats on the ocean surface

highlights one named type found especially in certain Atlantic areas
Sargassum bacciferum
vsgulfweed
  • Specialized
9.9

A brown seaweed with round air bubbles that forms large floating mats in warm Atlantic waters

is the general common type rather than one named species
sargasso weed
vsgulfweed
9.5

A brown seaweed that floats in the open ocean and forms large patches

is the same floating type but identifies a particular common name
genus Sargassum
vsgulfweed
  • Specialized
9.1

A brown seaweed that often floats in large mats on the ocean surface

is one member type within this larger taxonomic group
sea wrack
vsgulfweed
  • UK
8.4

Dead seaweed and other sea plants washed up on the shore

is found floating offshore rather than mainly washed up on beaches

Surface Forms

gulfweed singular
gulfweeds plural

Morphology

gulfweed = gulf + weed (semi-transparent) = gulf + weed

The components 'gulf' + 'weed' are clear, but the compound names a specific type of seaweed (Sargassum), a specialized referent not fully predictable from the parts.

Etymology

Gulfweed comes from the parts gulf ('a large sea area or bay') and weed ('a wild plant'). So gulfweed is a name for the floating brown seaweed you find in big sea areas like the Sargasso Sea.