Word
guano
US/ˈɡwɑˌnoʊ/
UK/ɡwˈɑːnəʊ/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. dried waste from sea birds or bats that farmers use to help plants grow because it is very rich in nutrients.
n. accumulated excrement of seabirds or bats, valued as a nitrogen- and phosphate-rich fertilizer.
Examples
“Farmers use guano to help their crops grow.”
“The island workers collect guano from the cliffs to sell as natural fertilizer.”
“Centuries of seabird guano built thick deposits on the coastal rocks, creating a fertilizer so rich that nations once fought to control it.”
Examples
simple
“Farmers use guano to help their crops grow.”
contextual
“The island workers collect guano from the cliffs to sell as natural fertilizer.”
complex
“Centuries of seabird guano built thick deposits on the coastal rocks, creating a fertilizer so rich that nations once fought to control it.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “guano” in context.
Verb
01. apply guano
“Apply guano sparingly to avoid burning the plants' roots.”
verb + noun
02. enrich with guano
“Growers enrich depleted soil with guano before planting maize.”
verb + prep + noun
03. fertilize with guano
“Many smallholders fertilize with guano instead of chemicals.”
verb + prep + noun
04. guano accumulates
“Over decades guano accumulates on undisturbed cave floors.”
noun + verb
05. harvest guano
“Workers harvest guano from caves by hand in the dry season.”
verb + noun
Adjective
06. bat guano
“Biologists test bat guano to monitor viruses in cave colonies.”
noun + noun
Noun
07. bag of guano
“He bought a heavy bag of guano for his vegetable garden.”
noun + prep + noun
08. deposit of guano
“Researchers sampled a centuries-old deposit of guano.”
noun + prep + noun
09. guano trade
“The 19th-century guano trade transformed global agriculture.”
noun + noun
10. a layer of bat guano
“The cave floor was covered by a layer of bat guano.”
11. apply diluted guano to crops
“Growers apply diluted guano to crops to prevent root burn.”
12. fertilize fields with guano
“Small farms still fertilize fields with guano to improve yields.”
Real-World Examples
“Seabirds ferry nutrients from the open ocean and deposit them on the atolls as guano that nurtures land plants, marine life and coral growth.” “Dr Ratcliffe told BBC News: "When you add all the penguin guano on top of that, and you really do have one of the smelliest places in the world.” “And the team developed a remotely-operated fixed rig with low-light and infrared capabilities, as well as a remotely operated zoom feature, to film dwarf crocodiles hunting bats in a pitch-black cave covered in guano.” “Krill have a pink exoskeleton that penguins don’t fully digest, which contributes a rosy shade of pink to their guano.” Etymology
Borrowed from Spanish guano, from Quechua wanu.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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