manoa
manoa Lexical Profile
• noun
American A valley and residential neighborhood in Honolulu, Hawaii, renowned for its frequent rainfall and as the location of the main campus of the University of Hawaii.
"The lush, incredibly green vegetation of Manoa is sustained by almost daily passing rain showers."
A legendary, fabulously wealthy city in South American mythology, often closely identified with the fable of El Dorado.
"During the late sixteenth century, Sir Walter Raleigh mounted an ambitious expedition into the interior of Guiana in search of the golden city of Manoa."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to the Hawaiian location, the word is frequently written with a kahakō (macron) as Mānoa to accurately reflect Hawaiian pronunciation.
• Rhymes for manoa
Word Origin & Etymology
In the context of Hawaii, the name derives from the Hawaiian word 'mānoa', meaning 'vast', 'deep', 'solid', or 'thick'. In historical references to South American exploration, it originates from an indigenous Achagua term denoting a lake or settlement associated with the legend of El Dorado.