goliath frog
- noun
- /ɡəˈlaɪəθ frɔɡ/
- South African
:
rana goliat
- The goliath frog is the largest frog species in the world.
Examples
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Scientists traveled to Cameroon to study the endangered goliath frog and its habitat.
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Many zoos showcase the goliath frog to highlight biodiversity and conservation issues.
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The goliath frog can grow much larger than any other amphibian currently living on Earth.
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Have you ever seen a goliath frog in person?
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The goliath frog can grow up to a foot long and is known for its impressive size.
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In the rainforests of central Africa, the goliath frog is the largest frog species.
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Many people are surprised to learn that the goliath frog can weigh as much as 10 pounds.
Synonyms
A very large West African frog that can reach about one foot long and weigh ten pounds
How Big
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound combines 'goliath' (meaning very large or giant) with 'frog' (an amphibian), so its meaning as a very large frog or the largest species is directly and compositionally derivable from the constituents. Adjective+noun compounding of this kind is common and cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
The name goliath frog comes from the giant Goliath in the Bible and the animal frog, because people liked the image of a giant to show how much bigger this frog is than others. So, the name reminds you that a 'goliath frog' is a very large frog.