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Glite Dictionary
Tibetan mastiff

Tibetan mastiff

6.8
A very large, strong dog from Tibet with thick rough fur that guards homes and animals
  • noun
  • /tɪˈbɛtən ˈmæstɪf/
translation icon : mastín tibetano
  • Because of their size, Tibetan mastiffs need plenty of exercise and space.

Examples

  • The Tibetan mastiff is known for its loyalty and protective instincts.

  • The Tibetan mastiff is known for its impressive size.

  • Her family has raised Tibetan mastiffs for generations in the mountains.

  • Many people admire the Tibetan mastiff for its loyalty.

  • The Tibetan mastiff is known for its impressive size and thick coat, making it an excellent guard dog.

  • When the intruder approached, the Tibetan mastiff stood protectively in front of its owners.

  • Many families choose a Tibetan mastiff for its loyalty and ability to guard their home.

Synonyms

mastiff
vsTibetan mastiff
7 4.1

A very large, strong dog that guards houses or land

has a thicker rough coat adapted to cold mountain regions

Surface Forms

Tibetan mastiff singular
Tibetan mastiffs plural

Morphology

Tibetan + mastiff

The meaning is directly compositional: 'Tibetan' specifies origin/association (from Tibet) and 'mastiff' names a large guard-type dog, so a learner who knows both words can readily infer a large dog breed from Tibet. This adjective+noun pattern is transparent and common cross-linguistically, making the MWE predictable for a B1 learner.

Etymology

Tibetan mastiff comes from its home and job: Tibetan points to Tibet's high mountains, and mastiff was an old word for a large guard dog. These big, thick-coated dogs watched flocks and homes, so the name now means a very large, powerful 'guard dog'.