laughing hyena
Definition
Noun: * Laughing hyena: A specific species of hyena (Crocuta crocuta) native to Africa, characterized by its unique vocalization that resembles human laughter. This is its common name, derived from its distinctive sound.
Examples
- Noun:
- The eerie call of the laughing hyena echoed across the savanna at night.
- We watched a documentary about the social structure of the laughing hyena.
Advanced Usage
- The term "laughing hyena" is almost exclusively used as the common name for the spotted hyena (). It is not typically used in metaphorical or idiomatic ways separate from the animal itself.
- In literature or descriptive writing, the "laugh" of the hyena is often used to create an atmosphere of menace, madness, or dark humor.
- The villain's chuckle was compared to the call of a laughing hyena.
Variants and Related Words
- Spotted hyena (n): The more formal biological name for the same animal ().
- Hyena (n): The general family name (Hyaenidae) which includes the laughing/spotted hyena, as well as the striped hyena and brown hyena.
- Howl (n/v): The distinctive vocalization; while called a "laugh," it is biologically a form of howl or whoop.
Synonyms
- Spotted hyena: The direct synonym and more scientific term.
- Crocuta crocuta: The Latin binomial nomenclature.
Related Phrases
- To laugh like a hyena: An idiom describing a loud, harsh, or uncontrollable laugh that is considered unpleasant or jarring.
- He laughed like a hyena at his own joke, startling everyone at the table.
Noun
-
African hyena noted for its distinctive howl
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