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Glite Dictionary
Mt. McKinley

Mt. McKinley

6.0
Former name for Denali, the highest mountain in North America in Alaska
  • proper noun
  • /ˈmɑʊnt məˈkɪnli/
translation icon : Monte McKinley
  • Mt. McKinley, now known as Denali, rises majestically at 20,310 feet, making it the highest mountain in North America.

Examples

  • Many climbers attempt to reach the summit of Mt. McKinley each year.

  • The breathtaking view from Mt. McKinley attracts tourists from all over the world.

  • Mt. McKinley was officially renamed Denali by the U.S. government in 2015.

  • Many climbers aspire to reach the summit of Mt. McKinley.

  • Did you know that Mt. McKinley is also called Denali?

  • Many climbers aspire to reach the summit of Mt. McKinley, attracted by its challenging terrain and stunning views.

  • The scenic beauty around Mt. McKinley attracts thousands of visitors to Denali National Park each year.

Synonyms

McKinley
vsMt. McKinley
40 5.0

A very high snow-covered mountain in south central Alaska, the tallest in North America

is the formal older title rather than the shorter informal form
Denali
vsMt. McKinley
9 5.5

The highest mountain in North America in south-central Alaska

is the older name no longer used officially
Mount McKinley
vsMt. McKinley
1 4.9

A tall mountain in south-central Alaska that is the highest peak in North America

is the older name now replaced by the current official name

Surface Forms

Mt. McKinley main

Morphology

Mt. + McKinley

The expression is fully compositional: 'Mt.' (Mount) combined with the proper name 'McKinley' denotes a mountain called McKinley, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer it names a mountain. This naming pattern for geographic features is cross-linguistically common, making the phrase transparent to a B1 learner (specific facts like height or its official renaming to Denali are additional encyclopedic knowledge).

Etymology

Mt. McKinley gets its name from a gold prospector who, long ago, named the peak after President William McKinley, but local people always called it Denali, which means 'the high one'. That's why the name refers to the tallest mountain in North America.