river horse

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The term "river horse" is a common name for the animal known as the hippopotamus. Let's break down this word and its meaning for you:

Basic Definition:

• River Horse (noun): A large, thick-skinned animal that lives in or near rivers in tropical Africa. They are herbivores, which means they primarily eat plants.

Usage Instructions:

• You can use "river horse" when you want to refer to the hippopotamus in a more descriptive way, focusing on its habitat and physical characteristics.

Example Sentence:

• "The river horse is often seen lounging in the water to keep cool during the hot African day."

Advanced Usage:

• In more scientific or zoological contexts, you might refer to this animal as Hippopotamus amphibius, which is its formal name in Latin.

Word Variants:

• Hippopotamus: The formal name for the river horse.
• Hippo: A common nickname for the hippopotamus, often used in casual conversation.

Different Meanings:

• The term "river horse" is not commonly used outside of referring to hippopotamuses. However, the word "horse" can refer to different animals or concepts (like a horse used for riding).

Synonyms:

• Hippopotamus: The scientific term.
• Hippo: The informal term.
• Other terms are not typically used for this specific animal, but "large herbivore" could describe it in a general sense.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "river horse." However, you might encounter idioms involving "horse," like "don’t look a gift horse in the mouth," which means not to criticize a gift.

Summary:

"River horse" is a descriptive term for the hippopotamus, a large, plant-eating animal found in African rivers. When talking about this animal, you can use either "river horse" or "hippo," depending on the context.

Academic

Noun

1. massive thick-skinned herbivorous animal living in or around rivers of tropical Africa

Synonyms

• hippopotamus
• hippo
• Hippopotamus amphibius