Definition

Proper noun * A mountain peak: Gosainthan is the name of a specific, very high mountain located in the Himalayas, within the Tibet region. It is also known as Shishapangma, which is its more common Tibetan name. It is one of the world's highest peaks.

Usage Notes

• Geographical Context: This word is used almost exclusively in geographical, mountaineering, or historical contexts. It refers to a single, famous landmark.
• Capitalization: As a proper noun, it is always capitalized: .
• Specificity: It is a very specific term. In general conversation, one would say "a mountain" or "a peak." "Gosainthan" is used only when referring to this particular mountain.

Examples

• Proper noun:
  • Gosainthan is the fourteenth-highest mountain in the world.
  • The expedition aimed to summit Gosainthan from its northern face.
  • On a clear day, you can see Gosainthan in the distance.

Advanced Usage

• Historical/Alternative Name: The name "Gosainthan" is of Sanskrit origin. In modern contexts, especially in mountaineering and geography, the Tibetan name Shishapangma (Xixabangma) is more frequently used.
  • While known historically as Gosainthan, it is now commonly called Shishapangma on maps.

Variants and Related Words

• Shishapangma (Proper noun): The standard Tibetan name for the same mountain peak. This is the primary name used today.
• Xixabangma (Proper noun): An alternate transliteration of the Tibetan name "Shishapangma."
• Peak (Noun): The pointed top of a mountain.
• Summit (Noun): The highest point of a mountain.

Synonyms

• Shishapangma: This is the direct synonym, being another name for the same mountain.
• Mountain peak: A general term for the top of a mountain.
• Fourteen-thousander (Colloquial): A term for mountains over 14,000 feet (though this peak is much higher, over 26,000 feet).

Related Terminology (Not Phrasal Verbs or Idioms)

• Himalayas: The major mountain range in Asia where Gosainthan/Shishapangma is located.
• Eight-thousander: A mountaineering term for the fourteen independent mountains on Earth that are more than 8,000 meters (26,247 ft) high above sea level. Gosainthan/Shishapangma is one of these.

Noun

1. a mountain in the Himalayas in Tibet (26,290 feet high)