Marco Polo's sheep
- noun
- Specialized
:
oveja de Marco Polo
- Marco Polo's sheep inhabit the mountainous regions of the Pamirs, where their large horns help them in fights for dominance.
Examples
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The horns of the Marco Polo's sheep can grow to impressive lengths, making them a sought-after trophy.
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Researchers in Tajikistan are studying the migration patterns of Marco Polo's sheep to better protect the species.
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I saw a Marco Polo's sheep at the zoo.
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Have you ever heard of Marco Polo's sheep?
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In the high mountains of Central Asia, Marco Polo's sheep are often seen grazing on the rocky slopes.
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Wildlife conservationists are working to ensure the survival of Marco Polo's sheep, which face threats from habitat loss.
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Project researchers tracked the population of Marco Polo's sheep to gather data on their behavior in the wild.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A large wild sheep from Central Asia with big curved horns on males
A large wild sheep from Central Asia with very long spiral horns
A wild Asian sheep with very large curled horns
A large wild sheep from central Asian mountains with very long curved horns
A wild sheep with large curved horns that lives in dry, rocky areas of central Asia
Surface Forms
Morphology
Marco + Polo's + sheep
A B1 learner who knows 'Marco Polo' and 'sheep' can infer this refers to a sheep associated with or named after Marco Polo, so the basic category (a type of sheep) is transparent. However, the specific referent—a large wild Central Asian species with massive spiraled horns and taxonomic status—is not predictable from the constituents alone, so the expression is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Marco Polo's sheep comes from the traveller Marco Polo, who described large mountain sheep with long, spiraled horns during his journeys in Central Asia. Because of his famous description, the name now refers to that particular wild sheep species.