lynx caracal

9.8

A wild cat with long black hairs on its ears that lives in deserts in northern Africa and southern Asia

noun
/lɪŋks ˈkɛrəkəl/

Indian

: caracal

The lynx caracal is renowned for its distinctive tufted black ears and agility.

Examples

Researchers observed a lynx caracal hunting small mammals in the Sahara desert.
Many zoos house the lynx caracal because of its striking appearance and adaptability.
The lynx caracal is known for its distinctive tufted ears.
Many lynx caracals inhabit the arid regions of Africa.
Researchers observed a lynx caracal hunting small mammals in the Sahara desert.
The lynx caracal is renowned for its distinctive tufted black ears and agility.
Many lynx caracals inhabit the arid regions of Africa.

Synonyms

caracal

vslynx caracal

1 9.9

A medium-sized wild cat with long ear tufts that lives in dry parts of Africa and Asia

is the same species presented as an alternative name

desert lynx

vslynx caracal

8.4

A wild cat with long tufts of hair on its ears that lives in hot, dry deserts

focuses on physical features rather than being just an alternate name

Surface Forms

lynx caracal singular

lynx caracals plural

Morphology

lynx + caracal

Both constituents are names of wildcats, so a B1 learner who knows 'lynx' (a wildcat with tufted ears) and 'caracal' (a medium-sized desert cat) can infer that 'lynx caracal' refers to a type of wild cat or specifically the caracal. The meaning is directly compositional and predictable from the parts, following straightforward noun–noun naming patterns.

Etymology

Lynx caracal combines two names that explain how the animal looks: lynx is a tuft-eared wild cat and caracal comes from a Turkish word meaning 'black ear'. So, the name makes you picture a slim desert cat with dark ear tufts, and that image is why it refers to this species.