Pacific newt
- noun
- /pəˈsɪfɪk njuːt/
- Specialized
:
tritón del Pacífico
- The Pacific newt is known for the toxins in its skin that deter predators.
Examples
-
Several hikers spotted a Pacific newt near the edge of the stream.
-
Biologists conducted a study on the habitat of the Pacific newt in Northern California.
-
The Pacific newt is known for its bright coloration.
-
I spotted a Pacific newt in the pond yesterday.
-
Biologists conducted a study on the habitat of the Pacific newt in Northern California.
-
Several hikers spotted a Pacific newt near the edge of the stream.
-
The Pacific newt is known for the toxins in its skin that deter predators.
Synonyms
1
8.8
A small salamander with rough skin that lives near streams on the Pacific coast
A small salamander that lives near water on the Pacific coast of North America
A small newt with very poisonous skin found along the Pacific coast
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is directly compositional: 'Pacific' (pertaining to the Pacific region) modifies 'newt' (a small salamander), so the phrase denotes a newt from the Pacific area. This adjective + noun pattern is a straightforward, cross-linguistic way of specifying provenance and would be clear to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.
Etymology
Pacific newt is a name that tells where the animal lives and what it is. The word Pacific points to the 'Pacific' coast where it lives, and newt means a small animal like a frog; these animals have rough, poisonous skin that helps protect them, so the name makes you think of a rough-skinned, toxic little amphibian from the west coast.