Gila monster
1
8.4
- noun
- /ˈhiːlə ˈmɒnstər/
- US
:
monstruo de Gila
- While hiking in the desert, we spotted a Gila monster basking in the sun.
- Gila monster venom
Examples
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If the Gila monster chase you, step to the side, 'cause they can't turn.
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We're going to buy a Gila monster, Barney.
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- I saw a Gila monster crawl under it.
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If a Gila monster starts chasing you while we out here, make sure you jump to the side.
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There isn't a Gila monster under there.
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In the venom of the Gila monster lizard, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. discovered a compound, exendin, which the company hopes to use to develop a drug for treating diabetes.
Academic text (1997) -
The Gila monster is known for its bright orange and black markings, making it easy to identify.
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Although the Gila monster is venomous, it is typically not dangerous to humans unless threatened.
Synonyms
A large orange and black lizard with venom from the southwestern United States, called the Gila monster
Surface Forms
Morphology
The name combines a place-name 'Gila' with 'monster' (a large or fearsome creature), so a B1 learner who knows the words can infer it refers to some creature associated with the Gila region. However, the precise zoological meaning — a specific large, heavy-bodied venomous lizard with distinctive markings — cannot be fully derived from the constituents, so the expression is only partially predictable.
Etymology
Gila monster comes from the 'Gila River' in Arizona, where people first found the animal. People added monster because it looks big and scary with rough skin and a strong bite, so today Gila monster means a large 'lizard' that has venom.