African monitor
- noun
- South African
:
monitore africano
- Researchers observed a African monitor raiding a crocodile’s nest for eggs.
Examples
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The African monitor is renowned for its agility and strength in the wild.
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Many African monitors live in the savannah.
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Young African monitors grow quickly, reaching impressive sizes within a few years.
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The African monitor is a fascinating reptile.
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Researchers observed a African monitor raiding a crocodile’s nest for eggs.
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The African monitor is known for its powerful build and skillful hunting techniques.
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Young African monitors can often be seen basking in the sun as they grow rapidly.
Synonyms
2
9.1
A large tropical lizard that eats meat and has a long tail
1
6.1
A large lizard from hot regions like Africa, Asia and Australia that eats meat
1
9.9
A group of large lizards called monitor lizards, like the Komodo dragon
A large lizard that lives in hot places and hunts birds and mice
How Big
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is directly compositional: 'African' specifies origin/association and 'monitor' names a type of large lizard, so together they denote a monitor lizard from Africa. This adjective + noun structure is a standard, cross-linguistically common pattern, making the meaning immediately accessible to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.
Etymology
African monitor gets its name from how this big African lizard often stands and looks around like a watcher. One popular idea says people called it monitor from a word meaning 'to warn' or 'watch', so the name links to its watchful behaviour.