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Glite Dictionary
Meleagris gallopavo

Meleagris gallopavo

9.9
A large North American bird with a fan-shaped tail often raised for food
  • noun
  • /ˌmɛliˈæɡrɪs ˌɡæləˈpɑːvoʊ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : pavo
  • The scientific name for the wild turkey is Meleagris gallopavo.

Examples

  • Domesticated Meleagris gallopavo are a popular source of meat in many countries.

  • Did you know that the Meleagris gallopavo is native to North America?

  • Researchers observed a flock of Meleagris gallopavo in the forest reserve.

  • The Meleagris gallopavo is often found in forests.

  • The scientific name for the wild turkey is Meleagris gallopavo.

  • Did you know that the Meleagris gallopavo is native to North America?

  • Researchers observed a flock of Meleagris gallopavo in the forest reserve.

Synonyms

turkey
vsMeleagris gallopavo
  • US
345 1.0

A large bird with a wide fan-like tail raised for its meat

is the scientific formal name used for the same wild species

Surface Forms

Meleagris gallopavo singular
Meleagris gallopavos plural

Morphology

Meleagris + gallopavo

This is a Latin binomial scientific name (genus + species) rather than a compositional English phrase; the second element 'gallopavo' is not an English word and the parts are taxonomic labels whose meanings are not transparently derivable by an English B1 learner. Without knowledge of Latin or biological nomenclature, a learner who knows the listed constituents would not be able to infer 'wild turkey', so the expression is idiomatic/arbitrary in form.

Etymology

Meleagris gallopavo is a scientific name made from old Greek and Latin words: Meleagris may come from a Greek tale and was used for 'guinea-fowl', and gallopavo mixes words for 'rooster' and 'peacock' because the turkey looks a bit like both. That's why this name fits the wild turkey, a large bird with a fan-shaped tail that people keep for meat.