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
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And, of course, no Hailey Bieber outfit is complete without a Rhode phone case—this time in mahogany. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 17 Jan. 2025 The house itself, a dizzying 11,000 square feet of marble and mahogany opulence, seems to go on forever. Mike Klingaman, Baltimore Sun, 9 Jan. 2025 Burgundy, or merlot, mahogany, bordeaux, has been one of the dominant red carpet trends from this fall. Marissa Muller, WWD, 4 Jan. 2025 With scent profiles of orange and mahogany, sandalwood and eucalyptus, and fresh pine and green apple, there’s an aroma for everyone. Madison Yauger, People.com, 10 Dec. 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 30 Jan. 2025.

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

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