mahogany

noun

ma·​hog·​a·​ny mə-ˈhä-gə-nē How to pronounce mahogany (audio)
plural mahoganies
1
: the wood of any of various chiefly tropical trees (family Meliaceae, the mahogany family):
a(1)
: the durable yellowish-brown to reddish-brown usually moderately hard and heavy wood of a West Indian tree (Swietenia mahagoni) that is widely used for cabinetwork and fine finish work
(2)
: a wood similar to mahogany from a congeneric tropical American tree (especially S. macrophylla)
b(1)
: the rather hard heavy usually odorless wood of any of several African trees (genus Khaya)
(2)
: the rather lightweight cedar-scented wood of any of several African trees (genus Entandrophragma) that varies in color from pinkish to deep reddish brown
2
: any of various woods resembling or substituted for mahogany obtained from trees of the mahogany family
3
: a tree that yields mahogany
4
: a moderate reddish brown

Examples of mahogany in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In a grand mahogany kitchen just outside London, there’s Harry Potter magic at work. Jennifer Maas, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024 The mahogany hue is a great neutral for fall, but many other colors pop. Claire Rutter, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2024 Because of this, the inn now feels like a more modern, lively version of the show’s Independence Inn, which had a more formal feel with a dark color palette and mahogany wood. Rebecca Shinners, Architectural Digest, 19 Oct. 2024 Yamaha The guitar rocks a dreadnought shape with a lower cut for higher fret access, and features a Sitka spruce top with mahogany back and sides. Paul Ridden, New Atlas, 11 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mahogany 

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1660, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mahogany was in 1660

Dictionary Entries Near mahogany

Cite this Entry

“Mahogany.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mahogany. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

mahogany

noun
ma·​hog·​a·​ny mə-ˈhäg-ə-nē How to pronounce mahogany (audio)
plural mahoganies
1
: the wood of any of various chiefly tropical trees: as
a
: the strong usually reddish brown and heavy wood of a West Indian tree that is widely used to make furniture
b
: any of several African woods that vary in color from pinkish to deep reddish brown
2
: any of various woods resembling or substituted for true mahogany
3
: a tree from which mahogany is obtained
4
: a moderate reddish brown

More from Merriam-Webster on mahogany

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