Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
giant eland

giant eland

8.6
A very large antelope with dark stripes and twisted horns that lives in western and central Africa
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒaɪənt ˈiːlənd/
  • South African
translation icon : eland gigante
  • The giant eland is one of the largest antelopes in Africa, often found in herds across the grasslands.

Examples

  • In the savannah, the giant eland grazes peacefully, showcasing its impressive size and distinctive spiral horns.

  • This was the country of the white rhino, the giant eland, and a lot of other large animals that we hadn't yet met up with.

    Academic text (1990)

  • There were three albums devoted to botany and three devoted to those animals on which the expedition specially focused: the okapi, the giant eland, and the white rhinoceros.

    Academic text (1991)

  • Wildlife enthusiasts were thrilled to spot a giant eland during their safari, captivated by its majestic appearance.

Synonyms

antelope
vsgiant eland
28 2.9

An animal with long legs and curved horns that runs fast in Africa and Asia

is a highly specific large dark-striped western species rather than general bovids
eland
vsgiant eland
  • South African
1 9.1

A large African antelope with short spiral horns on both males and females

is the single dark-striped western species rather than the two-species group
Taurotragus derbianus
vsgiant eland
  • Specialized
9.9

A large antelope with dark stripes and spiral horns from west Africa near the equator

is the common name for the same species rather than the scientific name
Taurotragus
vsgiant eland
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of large African antelopes called elands

is one specific dark-striped western species within that genus

How Big

giant eland
  • South African
8.6
antelope
28 2.9

Surface Forms

giant eland singular
giant elands plural

Morphology

giant + eland

The meaning 'a very large eland' is directly and transparently composed from 'giant' (notably huge) + 'eland' (a species of antelope), so a learner who knows both words can infer the compound meaning. This is a straightforward adjectival modification pattern common across languages, making it immediately comprehensible to B1 learners.

Etymology

The compound noun giant eland comes from putting giant and eland together to make a clear picture: eland is the name for this African antelope and giant tells you it is very large. So imagine a huge, dark-striped antelope with long twisted horns, and you see why the name means 'a very large antelope'.