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Glite Dictionary
the Smokies

the Smokies

6.2
A group of mountains on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee in the southeastern United States
  • proper noun
  • Informal
translation icon : los Smokies
  • I love hiking in the Smokies during the fall.

Examples

  • Many species of wildlife thrive in the Smokies' diverse habitats.

  • The breathtaking views from the Smokies attract tourists every year.

  • We plan to visit the Smokies this summer for a camping trip.

  • Have you ever visited the Smokies?

  • Hiking in the Smokies offers breathtaking views and diverse wildlife.

  • The Smokies attract millions of visitors each year who come to enjoy the stunning landscapes.

  • As we drove through the Smokies, we marveled at the misty mountains and vibrant foliage.

Synonyms

Smokies
vsthe Smokies
3 6.0

A mountain range in the southeastern United States known for misty blue hills

is an informal name used instead of the formal official title
Great Smoky Mountains
vsthe Smokies
1 3.6

A mountain range on the border between North Carolina and Tennessee with mist and many plants and animals

is an informal casual label rather than the formal geographic name

Surface Forms

the Smokies main

Morphology

the + Smokies

Partially transparent: 'Smokies' is a colloquial, pluralized form deriving from 'Smoky' (as in 'Smoky Mountains') and follows an English pattern of shortening mountain-range names (compare 'the Rockies'), so a learner who knows 'smoky' and the naming pattern can plausibly infer it refers to a mountain range. However, it is a proper name and relies on cultural/toponymic knowledge to identify the specific Great Smoky Mountains, so the meaning is not fully predictable for a B1 learner.

Etymology

The Smokies comes from the mountains' smoky look: early visitors saw a blue mist that looked like smoke rising from the hills. One popular story says that this 'smoky' sight made people call the range 'the Smokies', so today the phrase means the Great Smoky Mountains.