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
The three-Michelin-star Spanish chef is opening his first restaurant outside Spain at Mount Nelson, bringing an immersive marine dining experience inspired by Cape Town’s kelp forests.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 17 Sep. 2025
Tens of thousands of sea lions and elephant seals dot the shorelines, while dolphins and sperm whales swim through the waters, which are also home to kelp forests and deep-sea coral gardens.
—Nicholas Derenzo, AFAR Media, 16 Sep. 2025
The twist, however, is that it’s infused with tourmaline, a naturally energizing crystal said to boost circulation and revive radiance, plus laminaria saccharina extract, a kelp that helps absorb excess oil, so skin feels fresh and balanced.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 12 Sep. 2025
In a study out of Zhejiang University of Technology, scientists extracted fucoidan, a sugar-rich sulfated polysaccharide found in Saccharina japonica, also known as sweet kelp – a type of edible brown seaweed used widely throughout Japan and Korea.
—New Atlas, 24 Aug. 2025
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Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 17 Sep. 2025
Tens of thousands of sea lions and elephant seals dot the shorelines, while dolphins and sperm whales swim through the waters, which are also home to kelp forests and deep-sea coral gardens.
—Nicholas Derenzo, AFAR Media, 16 Sep. 2025
The twist, however, is that it’s infused with tourmaline, a naturally energizing crystal said to boost circulation and revive radiance, plus laminaria saccharina extract, a kelp that helps absorb excess oil, so skin feels fresh and balanced.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 12 Sep. 2025
In a study out of Zhejiang University of Technology, scientists extracted fucoidan, a sugar-rich sulfated polysaccharide found in Saccharina japonica, also known as sweet kelp – a type of edible brown seaweed used widely throughout Japan and Korea.
—New Atlas, 24 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kelp
Cite this Entry
“Kelp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kelp. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
kelp
noun
: any of various large brown seaweeds
also
: a mass of these
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