vicuna
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A small wild Andean animal: A cud-chewing mammal native to the Andes mountains, similar to but smaller than the guanaco, valued for its fine, soft fleece.
- A soft wool fabric: A luxurious textile made from the fleece of the vicuña animal.
- The wool itself: The fine, soft fiber obtained from the vicuña.
Usage Examples
- Noun (Animal):
- The vicuña is protected by law in Peru.
- We saw a herd of vicuñas grazing on the high plateau.
- Noun (Fabric/Wool):
- Her scarf was made of the finest vicuña.
- Vicuña is one of the most expensive natural fibers in the world.
Advanced Usage
- "Vicuña wool": A common phrase specifying the fiber, though "vicuña" alone often carries this meaning.
- The rarity of vicuña wool contributes to its high cost.
- Used attributively (as a noun modifier) to describe products made from the animal's fiber.
- He owned a prized vicuña coat.
Variants and Related Words
- Vicuñas (n): The standard plural form.
- Vicuñas live at very high altitudes.
- Guanaco (n): A closely related, larger South American camelid.
- Alpaca (n): Another domesticated South American camelid bred for its fiber.
Synonyms
- For the animal: Andean camelid (a broader categorical term).
- For the fabric/wool: luxury fiber, fine wool (general descriptive terms, not direct synonyms).
Notes
- The word "vicuña" is sometimes spelled with a tilde over the 'n' (vicuña) in English to reflect its Spanish origin, though the 'n' is also commonly accepted.
- Due to conservation efforts, the trade in vicuña wool is now strictly regulated.
Noun
- small wild cud-chewing Andean animal similar to the guanaco but smaller; valued for its fleecy undercoat
- a soft wool fabric made from the fleece of the vicuna
- the wool of the vicuna