ENGLISH
REFERENCE

giraffe

n. countable
A1 Beginner US //dʒɝˈæf// UK //dʒɪɹˈɑːf// gi·raffe Slang

n. a very tall African animal with a long neck and legs. It has brown spots on its yellow skin and eats leaves from high trees.

n. a large African ruminant mammal with a very long neck and forelegs, having a coat patterned with brown patches separated by lighter lines.


SIMPLE

The giraffe reaches the highest leaves on the tree.

CONTEXTUAL

During the safari, we watched a giraffe gracefully lower its long neck to drink from the waterhole.

COMPLEX

The giraffe's unique physiology, including its powerful heart and specialized valves, allows it to maintain blood pressure while raising and lowering its head over several meters.

Synonyms
Origin

Borrowed from Middle French giraffe, from Italian giraffa. Displaced camelopard.

Usage

The plural form is typically 'giraffes', though 'giraffe' is sometimes used in a collective hunting context.

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