plural kelps or kelp
1
a
: any of various large marine brown algae that are large seaweeds (order Laminariales) growing in cool waters
Only canopy-forming kelp are visible on the sea surface.—
Glenn Scherer
Glenn SchererKelps grow fast, drawing on all the minerals and vitamins and nutrients they can from the watershed and the sun.—Zachariah Bryan
Zachariah Bryan… thickets of kelp forming submarine forests in the bay.—Jeff Phillips
see also bladder kelp, bull kelp, giant kelp
Jeff Phillips
b
: a mass or growth of large seaweeds
The kelp near the outer islands teems with marine plants and animals in far greater abundance than it does closer to the coast …—John L. Stein
John L. Stein2
a
: a blade (see blade entry 1 sense 2e) of kelp that is usually dried and used as food (as in sushi or soups)
b
: a dietary supplement containing processed kelp
c
: the ashes of seaweed used formerly especially as a source of iodine
Examples of kelp in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This image represents only a small portion of the canopy in this particular kelp forest.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
Earlier this year, researchers found that gray whales were avoiding the Oregon coast due to a drastic increase in sea urchins that have been depleting local kelp forests.
—Meira Gebel, Axios, 4 Oct. 2024
The council also approved funding for routine beach maintenance in South Laguna to include weekly sweeping of the parking lots at Aliso Beach, staircase maintenance at other beaches, and weekly beach grooming, which consists of removing kelp and debris from the sand.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Orange County Register, 17 May 2024
Research has also shown seaweed such as kelp isn’t a static vessel filled with CO2.
—Bywarren Cornwall, science.org, 29 Aug. 2024
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Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
Earlier this year, researchers found that gray whales were avoiding the Oregon coast due to a drastic increase in sea urchins that have been depleting local kelp forests.
—Meira Gebel, Axios, 4 Oct. 2024
The council also approved funding for routine beach maintenance in South Laguna to include weekly sweeping of the parking lots at Aliso Beach, staircase maintenance at other beaches, and weekly beach grooming, which consists of removing kelp and debris from the sand.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Orange County Register, 17 May 2024
Research has also shown seaweed such as kelp isn’t a static vessel filled with CO2.
—Bywarren Cornwall, science.org, 29 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for kelp
Dictionary Entries Near kelp
Cite this Entry
“Kelp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kelp. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
kelp
noun
: any of various large brown seaweeds
also
: a mass of these
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