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Glite Dictionary
Thar Desert

Thar Desert

1 6.1
A large dry area of sand in northwest India and southeast Pakistan with little plant life
  • proper noun
translation icon : desierto de Thar
  • Officials on Monday confirmed the deaths of at least 60 peacocks in the Thar Desert, part of southern Sindh province, over the last week.

Examples

  • The Thar Desert is renowned for its stunning sunsets that light up the sandy landscape in vibrant hues.

  • During our trip, we explored the unique wildlife found in the Thar Desert, particularly its diverse bird species.

  • The caption below indicated the place was the Thar Desert in Rajasthan, India.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Camping under the stars in the Thar Desert offers an unforgettable experience away from city lights.

Synonyms

Thar
vsThar Desert
1 7.9

A large desert in northwestern India and eastern Pakistan with sand dunes

places the area more in southeastern Pakistan rather than broadly eastern Pakistan
Great Indian Desert
vsThar Desert
4.0

A large dry area east of the Indus River in northwest India and southeast Pakistan

is the same region but called by a different name

Surface Forms

Thar Desert main

Morphology

Thar + desert

The phrase combines the proper name 'Thar' with the noun 'desert', so its meaning — the desert called Thar — is directly derivable from its constituents. This type of place-name composition (specific name + geographic noun) is cross-linguistically common and thus easily understood by learners who know both words.

Etymology

The place name Thar Desert may come from a local word Thar that meant a 'dry, empty place' or 'rocky ground'. That's why the name fits the large, hot area of sand with very few plants in India and Pakistan.