Dictionary

mahogany

noun ma·hog·a·ny \mə-ˈhä-gə-nē\

: a strong reddish-brown wood that is used especially for making furniture and that comes from several tropical trees; also : a tree that produces this wood

: a reddish-brown color

plural ma·hog·a·nies

Full Definition of MAHOGANY

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
ADVERTISEMENT

Origin of MAHOGANY

origin unknown
First Known Use: 1660

Rhymes with MAHOGANY

MAHOGANY Defined for Kids

mahogany

noun ma·hog·a·ny \mə-ˈhä-gə-nē\
plural ma·hog·a·nies

Definition of MAHOGANY for Kids

:  a strong reddish brown wood that is used especially for furniture and is obtained from several tropical trees
ADVERTISEMENT
How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.
Test your vocab with our fun, fast game
Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears