alpaca

[ al-pak-uh ]

noun
  1. a domesticated South American ruminant, Lama pacos, having long, soft, silky fleece, related to the llama and believed to be a variety of the guanaco.

  2. the fleece of this animal.

  1. a fabric or yarn made of it.

  2. a glossy, commonly black woolen fabric with cotton warp.

  3. a crepe fabric made of rayon and acetate yarn in imitation of alpaca wool cloth.

Origin of alpaca

1
1805–15; <Spanish <Aymara allpaqa

Words Nearby alpaca

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How to use alpaca in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for alpaca (1 of 2)

alpaca1

/ (ælˈpækə) /


noun
  1. a domesticated cud-chewing artiodactyl mammal, Lama pacos, closely related to the llama and native to South America: family Camelidae. Its dark shaggy hair is a source of wool

  2. the cloth made from the wool of this animal

  1. a glossy fabric simulating this, used for linings, etc

Origin of alpaca

1
C18: via Spanish from Aymara allpaca

British Dictionary definitions for alpaca (2 of 2)

alpaca2

sometimes alpacca

/ (ælˈpækə) /


noun
  1. a type of nickel silver used in jewellery

Origin of alpaca

2
of uncertain origin

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