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Glite Dictionary
piping guan

piping guan

9.9
A large bird that lives in trees in Central and South America and makes high clear calls
  • noun
  • US
translation icon : guan
  • Researchers observed a group of piping guans feeding in the treetops.

Examples

  • The piping guan is often found in tropical forests.

  • The rainforest was alive with the distinctive calls of the piping guan.

  • The piping guan is threatened by habitat loss in its native regions.

  • Have you ever seen a piping guan in the wild?

  • The piping guan is famous for its distinctive calls in the lush rainforests of Central America.

  • Birdwatchers travel to South America to spot the piping guan, known for its striking plumage and melodious sounds.

  • During our hike, we were thrilled to hear the piping guan calling from the treetops above us.

Synonyms

guan
vspiping guan
  • US
1 9.9

A large wild bird like a turkey that lives in tropical American forests and is often hunted for meat

is a tree-living bird known for its calls rather than for being meat
Pipile
vspiping guan
  • Specialized
9.9

Large crested birds that live in rainforests of Central and South America

is one arboreal species known for its distinctive call rather than a whole genus

Surface Forms

piping guan singular
piping guans plural

Morphology

pipe + guan

The phrase combines 'piping' (making a thin, high-pitched sound) with 'guan' (a type of bird), so a learner who knows both constituents can infer it refers to a guan that utters piping calls. This follows regular noun-modifier compounding in English and is therefore immediately predictable to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Piping guan gets its name from the sound it makes and the local name for the bird. One popular story says piping refers to its high, pipe-like 'call' and guan was the name people used for these large tree birds, so the name points to a big forest bird with a piping song.