Word
mahogany
Phoneticsma·hogany
US/məˈhɑɡəni/
UK/məhˈɒɡəni/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. a hard, reddish-brown wood from tropical trees that is often used to make expensive furniture. It is known for being very strong and having a beautiful, smooth finish.
n. a durable, reddish-brown timber from tropical trees of the family Meliaceae, valued for its grain and resistance to rot. Often used in high-end cabinetry and musical instrument manufacturing.
Examples
“The dining table is made of solid mahogany.”
“The library was lined with dark mahogany shelves that gave the room a warm and serious atmosphere.”
“While modern furniture often uses cheaper veneers, this antique desk is carved from genuine mahogany, showcasing the deep luster and intricate grain patterns characteristic of the species.”
Examples
simple
“The dining table is made of solid mahogany.”
contextual
“The library was lined with dark mahogany shelves that gave the room a warm and serious atmosphere.”
complex
“While modern furniture often uses cheaper veneers, this antique desk is carved from genuine mahogany, showcasing the deep luster and intricate grain patterns characteristic of the species.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the material or color; countable when referring to the specific species of tree.
Real-World Examples
“A common decorative practice in centuries past, faux graining transforms a low-cost material, like the pine used for the Stair Hall wainscoting, into a more expensive one such as oak, walnut, and mahogany.” “The carved mahogany panelling and brocade armchairs of Pullman's heyday may have been replaced by plastic tables and leather seats.” “There is also a 1958 war memorial stained glass by artist Hugh Easton while, on the main trading floor, the Lutine Bell sits, hung within a mahogany, pillared temple.” “In the stores at the Museum of London are some early typewriters, including a very early Hammond model, which looks like a mahogany toilet seat.” Etymology
A word of unknown origin, concocted in either English or Middle Dutch from one or more exotic phytonyms and common European words. alternative etymologies Alternatively from Portuguese mogano, mógono, obsolete forms of mogno, itself of unknown origin (often suggested to be from the English word instead of the reverse), perhaps from an extinct indigenous language, such as a Mayan language originally spoken in Honduras or a South American language, but no known cognates survive. Another theory attempts to link Yoruba moganwo (“trees”, literally “tall ones”), but this has been criticized.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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