Meaning & use
marine
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Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Connected with the sea, or living or happening in it.
Grammar: Used before a noun: marine life, a marine biologist.
Patterns
- marine life
- marine biology
A marine biologist studies the animals and plants of the ocean.
The reef is home to thousands of marine species.
Plastic is a serious threat to marine life.
adjectivebefore a noun
Relating to ships, boats and sailing.
Grammar: Used before a noun: marine insurance, a marine engine.
Patterns
- marine insurance
- marine engine
The company sells marine engines for small fishing boats.
He took out marine insurance to protect his yacht.
nouncountablemilitary
A soldier trained to fight on land and at sea, serving in a branch of the armed forces.
Grammar: Often capitalized when it names a member of a specific corps: a Marine.
Patterns
- join the Marines
- a Royal Marine
Her brother joined the Marines after high school.
A group of marines landed on the beach before dawn.
The marine stood guard outside the embassy.
Word forms
| plural | marines |
|---|
Common combinations
- marine life
- The scientists counted marine life in the bay.
- marine biologist
- She wants to become a marine biologist.
- marine reserve
- The marine reserve protects the coral from fishing.
- marine environment
- Oil spills harm the marine environment.
- join the Marines
- He decided to join the Marines straight after school.
Synonyms and how they differ
- oceanic
- Oceanic relates to the ocean specifically, and is often used for large-scale or scientific topics, while marine can describe any sea-related thing.
- maritime
- Maritime relates to sea travel, shipping and coastal areas, whereas marine stresses the sea's life and environment.
- nautical
- Nautical relates to ships and sailing, and is less about sea life than marine.
- aquatic
- Aquatic refers to water in general, including rivers and lakes, while marine is only the sea.
Opposites
Word family
- mariner noun
- a sailor
- maritime adjective
- relating to the sea or shipping
- submarine noun
- a ship that can travel underwater
- aquamarine noun
- a blue-green color or gemstone like sea water
Commonly confused: marine or maritime? marine or mariner?
marine vs maritime
Maritime is about sailing, ports and trade across the sea, while marine is about the sea and its living things.
marine vs mariner
A mariner is a sailor, while a marine is a soldier or something that belongs to the sea.
Practice
Which phrase uses marine with its adjective meaning?
Choose one answer.
Marine as an adjective means relating to the sea, so marine ecosystem fits. The other options use marine as a noun for a soldier.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “marine”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.