tapir — a large herbivorous mammal with a flexible snout, native to Central and South America and Southeast Asia
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a large herbivorous mammal with a flexible snout, native to Central and South America and Southeast Asia
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈteɪpər/
Example Sentences
- The zoo's new tapir became Instagram famous for its adorable swimming videos.
- Unlike elephants, tapirs are excellent swimmers and love to dive underwater.
- The baby tapir followed its mother like a striped watermelon with legs.
tapir
NOUN[/ˈteɪpər/]
a large herbivorous mammal with a flexible snout, native to Central and South America and Southeast Asia
Large mammal with flexible snout
The tapir's paper caper!
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Tupi, a language of indigenous peoples of South America. Portuguese explorers encountered this large, barrel-bodied mammal in the 16th century and borrowed the Tupi term 'tapyra' into European languages, introducing both the animal and its name to the Old World.
Breakdown
tapyra (Tupi: literally 'animal with thick skin'), a descriptive term referring to the tapir's characteristic thick, tough hide and robust physiology.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The zoo's new tapir became Instagram famous for its adorable swimming videos.”
“Unlike elephants, tapirs are excellent swimmers and love to dive underwater.”
“The baby tapir followed its mother like a striped watermelon with legs.”
“Tapirs play an important role in seed dispersal throughout tropical forests.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.