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Glite Dictionary
Alaskan brown bear

Alaskan brown bear

3.2
A very large brown bear that lives on the coasts of Alaska and British Columbia
  • noun
  • /əˈlæskən braʊn bɛr/
  • US
translation icon : oso pardo de Alaska
  • Wildlife biologists study the diet and behavior of the Alaskan brown bear along the coast.

Examples

  • The Alaskan brown bear is known for its impressive size and strength while fishing for salmon.

  • The Alaskan brown bear is known for its impressive size.

  • During our trip to Alaska, we spotted an Alaskan brown bear fishing in the river.

  • The Alaskan brown bear is one of the largest bear subspecies in the world.

  • Many tourists visit Alaska to see the Alaskan brown bears in their natural habitat.

  • Many tourists visit Alaska to photograph the majestic Alaskan brown bear in its natural habitat.

  • An adult Alaskan brown bear can weigh over 1,500 pounds and is a top predator in the region.

Synonyms

Kodiak bear
vsAlaskan brown bear
  • US
1 5.5

A very large brown bear that lives on Kodiak Island and nearby coasts

describes the coastal subspecies more generally without island emphasis
Ursus arctos middendorffi
vsAlaskan brown bear
  • Specialized
9.9

A very large brown bear that lives on Kodiak Island and nearby coasts of Alaska and British Columbia

is the general coastal subspecies term without taxonomic or superlative focus
Ursus middendorffi
vsAlaskan brown bear
  • Specialized
9.9

A very large brown bear that lives on coasts of Alaska and British Columbia

is the common descriptive name used for that same subspecies
Kodiak
vsAlaskan brown bear
  • US
7.7

A very large brown bear that lives near the sea in Alaska, especially on Kodiak Island

uses a descriptive regional phrase rather than the short common name

Surface Forms

Alaskan brown bear singular
Alaskan brown bears plural

Morphology

Alaskan + brown + bear

The meaning is directly compositional: 'Alaskan' locates it in Alaska, 'brown' describes its color/type, and 'bear' names the animal, so a learner who knows the three words will infer it is a brown bear from Alaska. This place+color+animal modifier pattern is cross-linguistically common, so apart from technical subspecies details the phrase is immediately understandable to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Alaskan brown bear is a name made from three simple parts: Alaskan (from Alaska), brown (its fur color), and bear (the animal). So the name means 'a large brown bear that lives in Alaska, often near rivers and the coast'.