golden eagle
2
3.7
- noun
- /ˈɡoʊldən ˈiɡəl/
:
águila real
- While hiking, I spotted a golden eagle soaring majestically above the cliffs.
Examples
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The golden eagle nests in high-altitude areas, making it a fascinating sight for birdwatchers.
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The golden eagle is known for its impressive hunting skills in the mountains.
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Is that a golden eagle?
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It was a golden eagle.
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The golden eagle is North America's largest bird of prey.
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On the way to his study site one day, Roemer watched a golden eagle feeding on a distant hillside.
Academic text (2010) -
Island foxes alone could not support a population of golden eagles, but eagles that relied on piglets as a staple food often took foxes, too.
Academic text (2010)
Synonyms
121
1.0
A large bird of prey with sharp talons and very good eyesight
A large eagle that lives in mountains and has a golden brown head
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is a straightforward descriptive combination: 'golden' (having a gold-like color) modifies 'eagle' (a large bird of prey), so the phrase denotes an eagle with a golden coloration. This compositional, cross-linguistically common pattern makes the meaning directly inferable for a B1 learner who knows both words.
Etymology
The noun golden eagle comes from the bird's bright, golden-brown head and neck. Picture a large eagle with a shiny, yellow-brown head flying above the mountains, and that clear image explains why the name refers to this big bird of prey today.