hippopotamus
11
2.3
A very large animal with thick skin that lives near African rivers and eats plants
- noun
- /ˌhɪpəˈpɒtəməs/
:
hipopótamo
- Arriving in step with East African flora were the creatures of the East African savannas: gazelle, giant deer, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, wart hog.
- hippopotamus amphibius
- hippopotamus teeth
Examples
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Did you know that a hippopotamus' sweat is red?
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Large elephant tusks and hippopotamus teeth are also kept inside the shrine.
Academic text (2006) -
The hippopotamus is often seen resting in the water to keep its skin cool.
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In Africa, the hippopotamus is known for its massive size and powerful jaws.
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A hippopotamus can usually be found near rivers and lakes, where it spends much of its time.
Synonyms
31
1.0
A very large heavy African animal that eats plants and lives in rivers
is the full formal name rather than a short informal form
1
9.9
A large African animal with thick skin that lives near rivers and eats plants
is the current common name rather than an old-fashioned expression
Compounds
How Big
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word hippopotamus comes from Greek parts hippo- 'horse' and -potamus 'river'. So, it literally means 'river horse', a helpful picture to remember that this very large animal lives in or near rivers.