hippopotamus

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun

A semi-aquatic, herbivorous, African hoofed mammal of the family Hippopotamidae.
The common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius)

Pronunciation

/ˌhɪp.əˈpɒt.ə.məs/ /ˌhɪp.əˈpɑ.tə.məs/ [ˌhɪp.əˈpɑ.ɾə.məs] en-us-hippopotamus.ogg /hɪ.poˈpo.ta.mʊs/ /hɪ.po.poˈta.mʊs/ /ˌhi.po̞.po̞ˈte̞ː.mo̞s/ /ˌhi.poˈpo.te.mɔs/

Word forms

hippopotamus hippopotami hippopotamuses hippopotamos hippotamus

Etymology

From Latin and New Latin hippopotamus, from Ancient Greek ἱπποπόταμος (hippopótamos), from ἵππος (híppos, “horse”) (English hippo-) + ποταμός (potamós, “river”). Displaced nicker, from Old English nicor.

Synonyms

hippo hippopotamid river horse

Related words

hippo- hippopotamine Mesopotamia potamic hypotenuse hypothalamus

Derived words

common hippopotamus dependapotamus hippo hippopotamic hippopotamoid Hippopotamus Defence hippopotamuslike pygmy hippopotamus woolly hippopotamus

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