citlaltepetl
Definition
Proper noun: * Citlaltépetl: The name of an extinct stratovolcano in southern Mexico. It is the highest mountain in Mexico and the third highest in North America. It is more commonly known outside of Mexico by its Spanish name, Pico de Orizaba.
Usage Notes
- Citlaltépetl is a proper noun, the indigenous Nahuatl name for the volcano. It is always capitalized.
- In English-language contexts, especially in geography, geology, and travel writing, the volcano is most frequently referred to as Pico de Orizaba. The name is used to acknowledge its pre-Hispanic origin and in more specific academic or cultural discussions.
- The word itself comes from Nahuatl: (star) + (mountain), meaning "Star Mountain."
Examples
- Proper noun:
- Citlaltépetl, also known as Pico de Orizaba, is a popular challenge for experienced mountaineers.
- The snow-capped peak of Citlaltépetl is visible from the city of Orizaba on clear days.
Advanced Usage
- The term is used in historical and anthropological texts to refer to the mountain's significance in Mesoamerican cultures before the Spanish conquest.
- In Aztec cosmology, Citlaltépetl was considered a sacred mountain.
Variants and Related Words
- Pico de Orizaba (proper noun): The common Spanish and international name for the same volcano.
- Volcán Pico de Orizaba (proper noun): A fuller Spanish variant.
- Star Mountain: The direct English translation of the Nahuatl name .
Noun
-
an extinct volcano in southern Mexico between Mexico City and Veracruz; the highest peak in Mexico (18,695 feet)
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