marina
UK[məˈriːnə]US[məˈriːnə]
n
a specially designed harbor with moorings for small boats and yachts.
n
the area surrounding such a harbor, often including shops, restaurants, and other facilities.
Morpheme Breakdown
marin
a
marin
sea
a
noun-forming suffix
Etymology
the word "marina" is a direct borrowing from the italian and spanish word for "seashore" or "coast," which itself derives from the latin adjective marinus, meaning "of the sea." this latin term finds its source in the proto-indo-european root mori-/mari-, meaning "body of water" or "sea." the modern, specialized meaning of a harbor for pleasure craft developed in the 20th century, logically extending from the core concept of a facility intimately connected to the sea. thus, the term elegantly preserves its ancient aquatic lineage while serving a contemporary function.
Analysis
Structure: marin (sea) + a (noun-forming suffix)
"marin" originates from Latin marinus, meaning "of the sea," from mare (sea). the suffix "-a" is a common noun-forming suffix in latin and romance languages.
Examples
we kept our sailboat at the marina for the summer season.
the new waterfront development features a luxury marina and several fine dining restaurants.
after a long voyage, they were happy to find a safe berth in the protected marina.