ENGLISH
REFERENCE

savannah

n. C / U
B1 Intermediate US //səˈvænə// UK //sɐvˈænɐ// sa·van·nah Informal

n. a large, flat area of land covered in grass with only a few trees. You usually find these in hot parts of the world, like Africa.

n. a grassy plain in tropical and subtropical regions, with few trees. Characterised by a distinct seasonal cycle of wet and dry periods.


SIMPLE

The lions moved slowly across the dry savannah.

CONTEXTUAL

During the dry season, many animals on the African savannah travel long distances to find water holes.

COMPLEX

The ecosystem of the savannah is maintained by a delicate balance of grazing pressure and periodic fires that prevent forests from encroaching on the grasslands.

Synonyms
Origin

The cities are named after the Savannah River, possibly derived from Shawnee or Algonquian.

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the general landscape type; countable when referring to a specific geographic region.

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