What Does Littoral Mean?

The word littoral has its origin in Latin is taken from the word 'litoralis' which is obtained from 'litus' or 'litor'. Litus or litor means shore. It was modified from the Italian word Littorale. Littoral is an adjective and is used to describe something that is on a shore or belongs to the shore side. The shore is especially seashore. For example:  littoral forests. This example describes the forests that are found along the side of the shore. Another example: littoral biogeographic zone.

A shore or coastal region is also called littoral. The area or the region that lies between the boundaries of high and low tides. Bank, coast, lakeshore, lakeside, beach, margin, oceanfront, sea front, strand, seaboard, waterfront, shingle and shoreline are some of the words that are synonymous to littoral.