Definition

Proper noun 1. A specific mountain: The name of the highest mountain peak in North America, located in the Alaska Range in south-central Alaska, United States. It was officially known as Mount McKinley from 1917 to 2015 before being restored to its original Koyukon Athabaskan name, Denali, meaning "the high one" or "the great one".

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • Denali is the centerpiece of Denali National Park and Preserve.
  • Climbing Denali is a major challenge for mountaineers due to its extreme weather and altitude.
  • The name Denali was officially restored in 2015.

Advanced Usage

• "Denali" as a cultural and geographic symbol: The word is used to represent not just the physical mountain but also the wilderness, ecosystem, and cultural heritage of the region.
  • For the Athabaskan people, Denali has deep spiritual significance.
  • The Denali ecosystem supports a wide variety of Arctic and sub-Arctic wildlife.

Variants and Related Words

• Mount McKinley: The former official name for the mountain (historical usage).
• Denali National Park and Preserve: The national park in Alaska that contains the mountain.
• The High One: A common translation and descriptive phrase for Denali.

Synonyms

• The highest peak in North America: A descriptive synonym.
• Mount McKinley: A historical synonym (now deprecated in official contexts).

Related Terms and Phrases

• Summit of Denali: Refers to the highest point of the mountain.
• Denali fault: A major geologic fault system in the region named after the mountain.

Noun

1. a mountain in south central Alaska; the highest peak in North America (20,300 feet high)