giant salamander
1
7.6
- noun
- /ˈdʒaɪənt ˈsæləmændər/
- Wildlife conservationists are working to protect the endangered giant salamander in its natural habitat.
Examples
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This fund conserves amphibian species across the globe, from the Chinese giant salamander to Cameroon’s caecilians and the Panamanian golden frog.
Blog text (3) -
The giant salamander can grow over three feet long, making it one of the largest amphibians in the world.
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Many chefs in Asia use the giant salamander as a delicacy in traditional dishes.
Synonyms
A very large edible salamander from East Asia that grows over three feet long
How Big
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a very large salamander' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'giant' (very large) with 'salamander' (a moist-skinned amphibian); this is a straightforward noun phrase modification. This compositional pattern is common cross-linguistically and follows regular English adjective + noun rules, so a B1 learner who knows both words will understand it.
Etymology
Giant salamander joins giant (meaning 'very large') and the animal salamander, so the name paints a simple picture of a very big salamander. That's why the term refers to the real, huge species found in Asia that people sometimes eat.