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Glite Dictionary
imperial elephant

imperial elephant

9.9
A very large extinct animal with long tusks that lived in North America during the Ice Age
  • noun
  • /ɪmˈpɪəriəl ˈɛlɪfənt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : elefante imperial
  • The imperial elephant once roamed across vast regions of North America during the Ice Age.

Examples

  • Scientists have studied the fossils of the imperial elephant to understand its massive size.

  • Remains of the imperial elephant have been found alongside those of other prehistoric animals.

  • The imperial elephant was a magnificent creature.

  • Did you know the imperial elephant lived in North America?

  • Fossils of the imperial elephant have been discovered in various sites throughout North America.

  • Paleontologists are excited to learn more about the imperial elephant, which was the largest mammoth species.

  • The imperial elephant is known to have lived during the Pleistocene epoch, making it an important part of North American history.

Synonyms

Archidiskidon imperator
vsimperial elephant
  • Specialized
9.9

A very large elephant-like animal that lived in North America during the Ice Age and is now extinct

states it is the largest known without doubt
imperial mammoth
vsimperial elephant
  • Specialized
9.9

A very large extinct elephant-like animal that lived in North America during the Ice Age

emphasizes it is the largest known rather than merely large

Surface Forms

imperial elephant singular
imperial elephants plural

Morphology

imperial + elephant

The phrase is compositionally an adjective + noun, so a B1 learner who knows 'imperial' (relating to an empire/royal) and 'elephant' would likely infer a kind of grand or royal elephant. However, the specific sense 'an extinct species of mammoth, the largest known' and its taxonomic/historical details are not predictable from the constituents, so full meaning requires prior exposure.

Etymology

Imperial elephant may come from the word imperial meaning 'like an emperor' and elephant because the animal was so huge and grand that people pictured a royal, giant elephant. That's why the name now refers to a very large extinct elephant species.