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American antelope

American antelope

7.1
A fast, hoofed animal from western North America called the pronghorn
  • noun
  • /əˈmɛrɪkən ˈæntəloʊp/
  • US
translation icon : antílope americano
  • The American antelope can run at speeds up to 60 miles per hour.

Examples

  • The American antelope can run at incredible speeds across the plains.

  • Unlike true antelopes, the American antelope is not closely related to African species.

  • Many tourists hope to spot a American antelope during their trip to the national park.

  • I saw an American antelope while hiking in Wyoming.

  • Many tourists hope to spot a American antelope during their trip to the national park.

  • The American antelope can run at incredible speeds across the plains.

  • The American antelope can run at speeds up to 60 miles per hour.

Synonyms

pronghorn
vsAmerican antelope
  • US
3 8.4

A fast, deer-like animal from western North America with small branched horns

is a descriptive phrase rather than the single folk name
pronghorn antelope
vsAmerican antelope
  • US
1 8.0

A fast North American animal like an antelope with small forked horns on open plains

is the descriptive phrase, not a simple two-word common label
prongbuck
vsAmerican antelope
  • Archaic
9.9

An animal like a small antelope with short branched horns that runs fast on open plains

is the broader descriptive phrase rather than a regional nickname
Antilocapra americana
vsAmerican antelope
  • Specialized
9.9

A fast animal with hooves like an antelope that lives on western North American plains and has forked horns

is the everyday descriptive name rather than the scientific label

Surface Forms

Morphology

American + antelope

The phrase is fully compositional: 'American' (from the United States) + 'antelope' (a fast-running mammal) yields the straightforward meaning of an antelope-like mammal found in America. While biologically the pronghorn is not a true antelope, that specialist taxonomic detail does not prevent a B1 learner who knows both words from deriving the intended basic meaning.

Etymology

American antelope: The name American antelope comes from early settlers who thought this fast, horned animal looked like the antelopes they knew, so they called it American and antelope. It is actually a different animal often called the 'pronghorn', but the old name stayed and now means the fast North American mammal.