kelp

noun

ˈkelp 

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

Kelps grow fast, drawing on all the minerals and vitamins and nutrients they can from the watershed and the sun.

—Zachariah Bryan

… thickets of kelp forming submarine forests in the bay.

—Jeff Phillips

see also bladder kelp, bull kelp, giant kelp

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

2

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

Pristine native forests reach right down to the shores, where green frills on the surface are the only hint of the sprawling kelp forests beneath the tides. —John Bartlett, NPR, 12 Jan. 2025

In the Pacific, mats of kelp that breaks free inshore and float in knotted kelp paddies have the same effect as sargassum mats. —Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 19 Sep. 2024

Uni has been overpopulated and voraciously eating up kelp forests in many areas in the world. —Akiko Katayama, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024

Some groups are growing kelp forests or microalgae in the sea. —IEEE Spectrum, 26 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English culp

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing kelp

• bladder kelp
• bull kelp
• giant bladder kelp
• giant kelp
• kelp bass

Kids Definition

kelp

noun

ˈkelp 

: any of various large brown seaweeds

also : a mass of these

Medical Definition

kelp

noun

ˈkelp 

1

: any of various large marine brown algae that are large seaweeds (order Laminariales) growing in cool waters

2

a

: a dietary supplement containing processed kelp

b

: the ashes of seaweed used formerly especially as a source of iodine