Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Geococcyx

Geococcyx

9.9
A fast ground bird like a roadrunner that lives in dry parts of North and Central America
  • noun
  • /ˌdʒiːoʊˈkɒkɪks/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Geococcyx
  • Several species of Geococcyx, commonly known as roadrunners, thrive in the deserts of North America.

Examples

  • The cartoon character Road Runner is inspired by the real-life Geococcyx.

  • The Geococcyx is well known for its remarkable speed on the ground.

  • Several species within the Geococcyx genus are found in arid regions.

  • The Geococcyx is known for its incredible speed.

  • Did you see a Geococcyx in the desert?

  • The Geococcyx can run at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour across the dry landscapes.

  • You might spot a Geococcyx darting through the scrubland in search of insects and small reptiles.

Synonyms

roadrunner
vsGeococcyx
  • US
7 4.6

A large ground-running bird with a long tail that lives in the deserts of the American Southwest and Mexico

is the scientific genus name covering these birds across arid North and Central America
chaparral cock
vsGeococcyx
  • Archaic
9.9

A fast ground bird called a roadrunner that lives in dry parts of the United States and Mexico

is the scientific genus name for these birds across arid North and Central America

Compounds

Geococcyx californianus
  • Specialized
9.9

A large bird that runs very fast on the ground, living in deserts of the southwestern United States and Mexico

Surface Forms

Geococcyx singular
Geococcyxes plural

Morphology

Geococcyx = coccyx (opaque) = geo + coccyx

Although the name is a classical scientific compound, its meaning is not recoverable for most learners from the modern English word 'coccyx' and the prefix 'geo-'.

Etymology

Geococcyx comes from two parts: geo- meaning 'earth', like in geography, and -coccyx meaning 'cuckoo'. So it is an 'earth cuckoo' or ground cuckoo, which fits the roadrunner's way of running on the ground rather than flying.