tepee
Britishnoun
Etymology
Origin of tepee
C19: from Siouan tīpī, from ti to dwell + pi used for
Explanation
A tepee is a traditional dwelling used by indigenous North Americans in the Great Plains and Canadian Prairies. Tepees are cone-shaped tents made of animal skins and wooden poles. Tepee, which can also be spelled teepee or tipi, comes from the Lakota word thípi, meaning "dwelling." Typical tepees have flaps that open at the top, allowing smoke to escape. Their structure makes them portable but sturdy, and the treated skins keep their inhabitants warm in the winter and dry in the rain. Today, people in native communities mainly use tepees for ceremonies rather than homes.
Vocabulary lists containing tepee
Native American History - Introductory
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Native American History - Middle School and High School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Civilizations of the Americas, Lessons 3–4
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As Sitting Bull spoke, his younger wife entered the tepee and threw sticks on the fire before reclining in its glow.
From Slate ● Oct. 25, 2021
To commemorate their return, the tribe raised a traditional tepee longhouse on the crest of the property.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 30, 2021
Curtis’s mother was a Native American who belonged to the Kaw Nation, and he was raised on a reservation by his maternal grandparents, where he spoke the Indigenous language and lived in a tepee.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 12, 2020
Duane Linklater, an Omaskêko Ininiwak artist from Canada, has installed towering tripodal works that recall the structure of the tepee and contrast starkly with the ever-rising condominium towers surrounding the High Line.
From New York Times ● May 25, 2018
It was easy to find twigs for kindling and he soon had a tepee of twigs built over his leaf pile.
From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
