Red River of the South

5.5

A river in the south-central United States that flows east from Texas along the southern border of Oklahoma into Louisiana

proper noun

: Río Rojo del Sur

The Red River of the South forms part of the border between Texas and Oklahoma.

Examples

Flooding along the Red River of the South has shaped local communities for generations.
Early settlers followed the Red River of the South as they moved westward.
The Red River of the South is known for its rich history.
Many tourists visit the Red River of the South every year.
Early settlers followed the Red River of the South as they moved westward.
Flooding along the Red River of the South has shaped local communities for generations.
The Red River of the South forms part of the border between Texas and Oklahoma.

Synonyms

Red River

vsRed River of the South

4 2.2

A river in the southern United States that flows east from Texas along Oklahoma's southern border into Louisiana

is the full formal name for the same river

Surface Forms

Red River of the South main

Morphology

Red + river + of + the + South

This place name is compositionally transparent: the elements 'Red' + 'river' + 'of the South' describe a river that is called (or characterized as) red and located in the southern region. A B1 learner who knows the constituent words would be able to infer it denotes a specific river in the South even if they do not know its precise geographic details.

Etymology

Red River of the South comes from the river's red water, which is stained by red clay and soil after heavy rain. Early explorers and settlers called it the Red River, and adding of the South showed it was the southern Red River, so the name identifies this specific river.