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⛪ A Christian saint 🌊 A large river
Saint Lawrence

Saint Lawrence

3.7
A large river in eastern North America that flows from Lake Ontario to the Atlantic
  • proper noun
  • /seɪnt ˈlɔːrəns/
translation icon : río San Lorenzo
  • The Saint Lawrence River plays a crucial role in shipping between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean.

Examples

  • The Saint Lawrence River is one of the largest rivers in North America.

  • Ice can make travel on the Saint Lawrence dangerous in the winter months.

  • Many migratory birds stop along the Saint Lawrence during their seasonal journeys.

  • Many ships navigate the Saint Lawrence to reach the Great Lakes.

  • The Saint Lawrence River is vital for commerce, connecting the interior of North America to the Atlantic Ocean.

  • Tourists often take boat tours along the Saint Lawrence to enjoy the beautiful landscapes and rich history.

  • During the summer, the Saint Lawrence River attracts many recreational boaters and fishermen looking for a great day on the water.

Synonyms

Saint Lawrence River
vsSaint Lawrence
1 2.8

A large river in eastern North America that flows northeast from Lake Ontario into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence

is the same river name but written in a simpler form
St. Lawrence River
vsSaint Lawrence
1 2.8

A large river in North America that flows from the Great Lakes to the North Atlantic

is the abbreviated spelling of the same name rather than the full form
St. Lawrence
vsSaint Lawrence
4.4

A large North American river flowing to the Atlantic and forming part of the Canada–US border

is the same route but without mentioning the border role

Surface Forms

Saint Lawrence main

Morphology

saint + Lawrence

This is a proper name: knowing 'saint' (a holy person) and 'Lawrence' (a personal name) only indicates the name is derived from a saint, not that it denotes a major river. A B1 learner could guess it names a person or place but would not be able to derive the specific referent type (a river) from the constituents alone, so the meaning is not compositional.

Etymology

Saint Lawrence was the name an explorer gave to the great river when he reached it on Saint Lawrence's 'feast day', so he called the water after the saint. Today the name refers to the big river that links the Great Lakes to the ocean.