penguin — A flightless seabird with black and white plumage, found mainly in the Southern Hemisphere
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: A flightless seabird with black and white plumage, found mainly in the Southern Hemisphere
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈpɛŋɡwɪn/
Example Sentences
- The penguin slipped on the ice and slid into the water like a natural water slide.
- Every penguin in the colony wore the same black and white tuxedo - talk about a dress code!
- Penguins are excellent swimmers despite being flightless birds.
penguin
NOUN[/ˈpɛŋɡwɪn/]
A flightless seabird with black and white plumage, found mainly in the Southern Hemisphere
Flightless black and white seabirds
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word first appeared in the 16th century, originally referring to the now-extinct Great Auk seabird. The prevailing etymology traces it to Welsh 'pen gwyn', meaning 'white head', likely descriptive of the bird's distinctive markings.
Breakdown
pen (head) + gwyn (white). The compound Welsh term references the characteristic white-headed appearance of the Great Auk, from which the name was later transferred to the Southern Hemisphere penguins.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The penguin slipped on the ice and slid into the water like a natural water slide.”
“Every penguin in the colony wore the same black and white tuxedo - talk about a dress code!”
“Penguins are excellent swimmers despite being flightless birds.”
“The documentary showed how penguin parents take turns caring for their chicks.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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