Dolomite Alps
- proper noun
- We enjoyed breathtaking views while traveling through the Dolomite Alps during our Italian vacation.
Examples
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The Dolomite Alps are a UNESCO World Heritage site.
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The unique rock formations in the Dolomite Alps attract geologists from around the world.
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Many hikers dream of exploring the dramatic peaks of the Dolomite Alps.
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Have you ever hiked in the Dolomite Alps?
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Many hikers dream of exploring the dramatic peaks of the Dolomite Alps.
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We enjoyed breathtaking views while traveling through the Dolomite Alps during our Italian vacation.
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The unique rock formations in the Dolomite Alps attract geologists from around the world.
Synonyms
A mountain range in northeastern Italy that is part of the Alps and has pale rocky peaks
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is fully compositional: 'Alps' names the mountain range and 'dolomite' specifies the dominant rock type, so a learner who knows both words can infer it denotes the part of the Alps composed of dolomitic rock. This place-name formation is a common, transparent pattern cross-linguistically, so the meaning is predictable from the constituents.
Etymology
Dolomite Alps comes from the pale rock Dolomite, named after the French scientist Dolomieu who first described it. The mountains are mostly made of that light rock, so the name tells you what kind of stone makes these sharp, pale peaks.