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Glite Dictionary
southwestern toad

southwestern toad

9.8
A short, thick toad with bumpy skin that lives near desert streams in the southwestern United States
  • noun
  • /ˈsaʊθˌwɛstərn toʊd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : sapo del suroeste
  • Unlike other species, the southwestern toad thrives in semiarid environments.

Examples

  • Researchers studied the habitat preferences of the southwestern toad in New Mexico.

  • The southwestern toad is known for its warty skin.

  • The southwestern toad can often be seen basking on rocks near desert streams.

  • Have you ever seen a southwestern toad in the wild?

  • The southwestern toad can often be found near streams in Arizona during the summer months.

  • While hiking in the desert, we spotted a southwestern toad sitting by a wash.

  • The southwestern toad has a distinctive warty appearance that helps it blend into its rocky surroundings.

Synonyms

Bufo microscaphus
vssouthwestern toad
  • Specialized
9.9

A small toad with bumpy skin that lives near streams in the US Southwest

is stockier and more robust in build rather than being small

Surface Forms

southwestern toad singular
southwestern toads plural

Morphology

southwestern + toad

The meaning is fully compositional: the adjective 'southwestern' specifies a geographic region and 'toad' names the animal, so the phrase denotes a toad from the southwestern area. This adjective+noun formation is a common, cross-linguistic pattern and would be immediately understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Southwestern toad simply describes a southwestern toad — a short, warty amphibian that lives near dry streambeds in the 'southwest' of the United States. So, the name means a short, thick-bodied toad found by desert streams in that region.