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Glite Dictionary
Mauna Loa

Mauna Loa

3 4.8
An active volcano on the island of Hawaii that is one of the largest mountains made by lava
  • proper noun
  • /ˈmaʊnə ˈloʊə/
: Mauna Loa
  • Did you know that Mauna Loa is the largest volcano on Earth?

Examples

  • Scientists monitor Mauna Loa closely for any signs of increased volcanic activity.

  • The slopes of Mauna Loa are covered with hardened lava flows from past eruptions.

  • Hiking to the summit of Mauna Loa requires preparation and respect for changing weather conditions.

  • The Mauna Loa volcano is one of the most active in the world.

  • Hiking to the summit of Mauna Loa requires preparation and respect for changing weather conditions.

  • Scientists monitor Mauna Loa closely for any signs of increased volcanic activity.

  • The slopes of Mauna Loa are covered with hardened lava flows from past eruptions.

Surface Forms

Mauna Loa main

Morphology

Mauna + Loa

This is a Hawaiian proper name composed of elements not listed as English words here; even if a learner knew 'mauna' (mountain) and 'loa' (long), the name refers to a specific geographic entity (a particular volcano) and does not transparently convey the full meaning 'an active volcano, one of the largest in the world'. Place names are language-specific and largely arbitrary, so the MWE's meaning cannot be reliably derived from its parts by a B1 learner.

Etymology

Mauna Loa comes from Hawaiian words mauna meaning 'mountain' and loa meaning 'long'. The name paints a clear picture of a very long or tall mountain, which fits this huge volcano on the island of Hawaii.