Sierra Nevada
2
3.7
- proper noun
- /siˈɛrə nəˈvædə/
:
Sierra Nevada
- Tourists flock to hike along the breathtaking trails in the Sierra Nevada mountains every summer.
- Sierra Nevada, California
- Sierra Nevada foothills
- Sierra Nevada Mountains
Examples
-
The ranch was in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in a place called Verdi—named after the composer, only everyone pronounced the name Verdie.
Fiction book (1993) -
I found refuge with the Clock People, who discovered me in a snow bank, near dead. I had been climbing across the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Fiction book (1993) -
I grew up on a remote cattle ranch in the middle of miles of forest in the northern Sierra Nevada Mountains of California.
Blog text (15) -
We are situated in the Sierra Nevada foothills, on the shores of Scott's Flat Lake.
Blog text (22) -
Conversely, the towering Sierra Nevada Mountains are known for their crisp, clean mountain air and near-unlimited visibility.
Blog text (15) -
HERLONG, California (CNN) - If you need an example of why it is hard to cut the budget in Washington, look no further than this Army depot in the shadow of the Sierra Nevada range.
Blog text (15) -
Due to unforeseen difficulties crossing the Humboldt Sink, Penny had gone on; the Donner Party did not reach the Sierra Nevada until mid-October.
Fiction book (1993) -
California is home to the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains, the fertile San Joaquin Valley, and a picturesque coastline mirroring the Pacific: Yosemite, Napa Valley.
Blog text (22) -
The Sierra Nevada mountain range is home to the tallest peak in the contiguous United States, Mount Whitney.
-
Many outdoor enthusiasts visit the Sierra Nevada for its stunning landscapes and diverse wildlife.
Synonyms
1
3.2
A mountain range in eastern California and western Nevada with high peaks and scenic views
Surface Forms
Morphology
sierra + Nevada
This is a toponym whose first element 'sierra' literally means a mountain range and the second element 'Nevada' (from Spanish, 'snowy' / a place name) signals a specific mountainous region, so a learner who knows the constituents can largely infer it refers to a mountain range (often snow-covered). However, as a fixed place name with cultural/geographical specificity (and because 'Nevada' functions as a proper name rather than a transparent modifier in English), the exact referent and its location are lexicalized rather than fully predictable.
Etymology
Sierra Nevada is a Spanish name that comes from sierra meaning 'mountain range' or 'saw' and nevada meaning 'snow-covered'. Spanish explorers used this picture of white, saw-like peaks when they named the tall, snowy mountains in California, so the name fits the range you see today.