olmec
Definition
- Noun:
- A member of an early Mesoamerican civilization: An Olmec is a person who belonged to a foundational civilization that existed in what is now southern Mexico, primarily in the modern states of Veracruz and Tabasco.
- Pertaining to the Olmec civilization: The term is also used attributively to describe the artifacts, art, and culture produced by this civilization.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The Olmec are often called the "mother culture" of Mesoamerica.
- Archaeologists study the artifacts left behind by the Olmec.
Advanced Usage
- Used attributively: The word "Olmec" is frequently used as an adjective to describe the cultural products of this civilization, though it remains a noun in form.
- The museum has a remarkable collection of Olmec sculpture.
- Olmec art is famous for its colossal stone heads.
Variants and Related Words
- Olmecan (adj): A less common adjective form meaning "of or relating to the Olmecs."
- Mesoamerican (adj/n): Relating to the region and cultures of ancient Mexico and Central America, of which the Olmec were a part.
Synonyms
- There are no direct synonyms for the ethnic/cultural term "Olmec." Related descriptive terms include:
- Pre-Columbian (adj): Belonging to the period before the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas.
- Ancient American (adj): Belonging to the ancient civilizations of the Americas.
Related Phrases
- Olmec civilization: The specific society and culture to which the Olmec people belonged.
- The Olmec civilization laid the groundwork for later cultures like the Maya and Aztec.
- Colossal Olmec heads: The most iconic artifacts of the Olmec, massive stone sculptures of human heads.
- The colossal Olmec heads are believed to represent rulers.
Noun
-
a member of an early Mesoamerican civilization centered around Veracruz that flourished between 1300 and 400 BC
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