Definition

1. Noun:
   • A large, thick-skinned, herbivorous mammal that lives in or near rivers in tropical Africa. This is the common, informal name for the hippopotamus.
   • (Historical) An ancient Numidian town in northwestern Africa, adjacent to modern-day Annaba in Algeria.

Usage and Examples

• Noun (Animal):
  • We saw a hippo submerged in the river, with only its eyes and nostrils above the water.
  • The hippo is considered one of the most dangerous animals in Africa.
• Noun (Historical Place):
  • The ruins of the ancient city of Hippo are located in present-day Algeria.

Advanced Usage

• "Hippo" is almost exclusively used as a casual, shortened form of "hippopotamus." In formal scientific or zoological contexts, the full term "hippopotamus" is preferred.
• The historical usage referring to the ancient city is rare in everyday language and is primarily found in historical or archaeological texts.

Variants and Related Words

• Hippopotamus (n): The full, formal name for the animal.
• Hippopotamuses (n, plural): A standard plural form.
• Hippopotami (n, plural): A less common, traditionally Latinate plural form.

Synonyms

• Hippopotamus: The direct, formal synonym.
• River horse: A descriptive, less common synonym derived from the word's Greek origins.

Related Phrases and Collocations

• Hippo pool: A section of a river or zoo enclosure where hippos are commonly found.
  • The children gathered to watch the hippos in the hippo pool.
• Pygmy hippo: A much smaller species of hippopotamus.
  • The pygmy hippo is an endangered species native to West African forests.

Noun

1. massive thick-skinned herbivorous animal living in or around rivers of tropical Africa
2. an ancient Numidian town in northwestern Africa adjoining present-day Annaba in northeastern Algeria