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Glite Dictionary
common eland

common eland

7.5
A large African antelope with a fawn coat and spiral horns often found in grasslands
  • noun
  • /ˈkɒmən ˈiːlənd/
  • South African
translation icon : eland común
  • The common eland is the largest antelope found in Africa's grasslands.

Examples

  • We spotted a herd of common eland grazing near the riverbank during our safari.

  • Unlike many other antelopes, the common eland can be domesticated and kept for milk and meat.

  • The common eland is known for its impressive size.

  • I saw a common eland while visiting Kenya.

  • We spotted a herd of common eland grazing near the riverbank during our safari.

  • The common eland is the largest antelope found in Africa's grasslands.

  • Unlike many other antelopes, the common eland can be domesticated and kept for milk and meat.

Synonyms

Taurotragus oryx
vscommon eland
  • Specialized
9.9

A very large African antelope like a deer with short, slightly curved horns that lives in herds

is the everyday name used by the public for the same animal

Surface Forms

common eland singular
common elands plural

Morphology

common + eland

The phrase is a simple adjective + noun combination where 'common' (typical/frequently occurring) directly modifies 'eland' (a large antelope), so the overall meaning — a regularly occurring/species of eland — is transparently derivable from the parts. This compositional pattern is cross-linguistically common and follows basic English noun phrase formation, so a B1 learner who knows both words will understand the expression.

Etymology

Common eland may come from old Dutch and Afrikaans: eland was a word for a big deer or 'elk', and common meant the 'usual' or widespread kind. So the name gives a simple image: the 'usual' large antelope seen on the African plains, which is why it refers to this big, horned antelope.