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marine

adj. · n.
US //mɝˈin// UK //məɹˈiːn// ma·rine
  1. 1 related to the sea (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate Science

    related to the ocean or the creatures that live in it.

    pertaining to or inhabiting the ocean; used to describe biological, geological, or environmental aspects of the sea.

    Example

    The documentary explores how marine life survives in the deepest parts of the ocean.

    Example

    Biologists are concerned that rising water temperatures will disrupt delicate marine ecosystems and lead to a decline in fish populations.
  2. 2 shipping and navigation (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    related to ships, trading by sea, or the navy.

    relating to shipping, maritime commerce, or naval forces.

    Example

    The city has a long history as a center for marine insurance and trade.

    Example

    The company specializes in marine engineering, designing engines specifically capable of withstanding the corrosive effects of salt water.
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  1. 3 a soldier (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Military

    a soldier who is trained to serve on a ship and fight on both land and sea.

    a member of a military body, typically a marine corps, trained for amphibious warfare and serving aboard naval vessels.

    Example

    After finishing his training, he joined the marines and was sent overseas.

    Example

    The marines were the first to reach the coast, establishing a secure perimeter before the rest of the infantry arrived.

    Usage

    Often capitalized when referring to a specific branch, such as the U.S. Marines.
  2. 4 a fleet of ships (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic Formal

    a country's entire group of ships, including trading ships and the navy.

    the collective shipping of a country, including both commercial and military vessels.

    Example

    The king spent years building a powerful merchant marine to increase trade.

    Example

    The nation's mercantile marine was once the largest in the world, facilitating the transport of goods across every major ocean.
Origin

Recorded since c.1420 as Middle English marin, borrowed from Middle French marin, from Old French, from Latin marinus (“of the sea”), itself from mare (“sea”), from Proto-Indo-European móri (“body of water, lake”) (cognate with Old English mere (“sea, lake, pool, pond”), Dutch meer, German Meer, all from Proto-Germanic mari). The modern pronunciation is presumably due to the influence of modern French marine, feminine singular of marin.

Word family

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