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Glite Dictionary
Old World buffalo

Old World buffalo

8.0
Large wild animals like the water buffalo or Cape buffalo that live in Africa and Asia
  • noun
  • Indian
translation icon : búfalo del Viejo Mundo
  • The Old World buffalo includes the familiar water buffalo and the Cape buffalo of Africa.

Examples

  • Researchers study the population of Old World buffalo to better understand their role in local ecosystems.

  • Many farmers in Asia raise Old World buffaloes for milk.

  • Compared to the American bison, the Old World buffalo have distinct physical features and habitats.

  • The Old World buffalo is known for its strength.

  • Researchers study the population of Old World buffalo to better understand their role in local ecosystems.

  • The Old World buffalo includes the familiar water buffalo and the Cape buffalo of Africa.

  • Many farmers in Asia raise Old World buffalo for milk.

Synonyms

buffalo
vsOld World buffalo
16 1.3

A large wild animal like a cow with horns that lives in Africa and Asia

has identical meaning but uses a more specific phrase form

Surface Forms

Old World buffalo singular
Old World buffaloes plural

Morphology

old + world + buffalo

The phrase is compositionally built: 'Old World' functions as a geographic/origin modifier and 'buffalo' names the animal, so together they denote buffalo species native to the Old World (Africa/Asia). This origin-based meaning follows a common cross-linguistic pattern, so a B1 learner who knows 'old', 'world', and 'buffalo' can reasonably infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

Old World buffalo comes from a simple map idea: Old World meant the continents Europe, Asia and Africa, and buffalo named the large wild cattle found there. So, Old World buffalo means the buffalo species that live in the 'Old World', not the American bison.