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Glite Dictionary
Taklamakan Desert

Taklamakan Desert

7.2
A large sandy desert in western China with very dry land and strong winds
  • proper noun
  • /ˌtɑːkləˈmɑːkən ˈdɛzərt/
translation icon : desierto de Taklamakan
  • The Taklamakan Desert is one of the largest sandy deserts in the world.

Examples

  • Scientists are studying the shifting dunes of the Taklamakan Desert for clues about climate change.

  • Many travelers avoid the Taklamakan Desert due to its extreme conditions.

  • Ancient Silk Road caravans had to cross the harsh Taklamakan Desert to reach China.

  • The Taklamakan Desert is one of the largest deserts in the world.

  • Ancient Silk Road caravans had to cross the harsh Taklamakan Desert to reach China.

  • Scientists are studying the shifting dunes of the Taklamakan Desert for clues about climate change.

  • Many travelers avoid the Taklamakan Desert due to its extreme conditions.

Synonyms

Taklimakan Desert
vsTaklamakan Desert
7.9

A large desert in western China with very dry weather and moving sand dunes

emphasises exact Xinjiang location and very harsh arid conditions

Surface Forms

Taklamakan Desert main

Morphology

Taklamakan + desert

The compound is a proper-name + noun combination: 'Taklamakan' functions as the place name and 'desert' means a dry, sparsely vegetated region. A B1 learner who knows 'desert' and recognizes a capitalized word as a place name will transparently infer that this refers to a desert called Taklamakan (though specific geographic details like location in Xinjiang require extra knowledge).

Etymology

Taklamakan Desert may come from old local words meaning 'place of no return' or 'you can go in but not come out'. Because the desert is very large, with moving sand and few paths, that strong image explains why the name fits this harsh, dangerous place.