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Glite Dictionary
Mount Etna

Mount Etna

3.7
A large active volcano on Sicily's east coast that is the highest volcano in Europe
  • proper noun
translation icon : Monte Etna
  • Many legends surround Mount Etna, including tales of gods and mythical creatures living within its depths.
  • Mount Etna in Sicily

Examples

  • Tourists flock to see the breathtaking views from the top of Mount Etna, the highest volcano in Europe.

  • I grew up in the shadow of Mount Etna.

    I-See-You.com (2006)

  • It was a glimpse into the same forge, after all, that so attracted Empedocles to the summit of Mount Etna.

    Academic text (2010)

  • Munchausen visits Mount Etna and leaps, following the example of the Greek philosopher Empedocles, into its crater.

    Academic text (2010)

  • The nearest volcano was Mount Etna, in Sicily, a hundred miles away, not dead but very much alive, giving off wisps of smoke that could, on a clear day, be seen from Malta.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • The eruption of Mount Etna surprised the local residents, as it had been quiet for several months.

Synonyms

Etna
vsMount Etna
3 4.8

A large active volcano in Sicily, Italy that is one of Europe's highest and most active

is the currently active volcano described simply as the highest in Europe
Mt Etna
vsMount Etna
4.6

A large active volcano on Sicily's east coast and the highest volcano in Europe

is an actively erupting volcano rather than one described mainly by past activity

Surface Forms

Mount Etna main

Morphology

mount + Etna

The expression is a straightforward place name combining 'Mount' (a mountain) with the proper name 'Etna' (an identified volcano). If a learner knows both constituents, the meaning 'the mountain/volcano called Etna' is directly derivable; the 'Mount + placename' pattern is a common, compositional naming convention in many languages.

Etymology

Mount Etna may come from an old Greek word meaning 'I burn'. So, because the mountain often sends out lava and ash, the name helps you remember that Mount Etna is a burning, active volcano.