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• vicuna
  vicuna

  noun

  a wild South American ruminant, Vicugna vicugna, of the Andes, related to the guanaco but smaller, and yielding a soft, delicate wool: an endangered species, now increasing in numbers.
• vicuña
  vicuña

  noun

  a tawny-coloured cud-chewing Andean artiodactyl mammal, Vicugna vicugna, similar to the llama: family Camelidae

vicuna

American  

[vahy-koo-nuh, -kyoo-, vi-, vi-koo-nyuh] / vaɪˈku nə, -ˈkyu-, vɪ-, vɪˈku nyə /

Or vicuña

noun

1. a wild South American ruminant, Vicugna vicugna, of the Andes, related to the guanaco but smaller, and yielding a soft, delicate wool: an endangered species, now increasing in numbers.

2. a fabric of this wool or of some substitute, usually twilled and finished with a soft nap.

3. a garment, especially an overcoat, of vicuna.

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vicuña British  

/ vɪˈkjuːnə, vɪˈkuːnjə /

noun

1. a tawny-coloured cud-chewing Andean artiodactyl mammal, Vicugna vicugna, similar to the llama: family Camelidae

2. the fine light cloth made from the wool obtained from this animal

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Etymology

Origin of vicuna

1585–95; < Spanish vicuña < Quechua wik’uña

Example Sentences

Craig, who has run BHP’s Americas operations since March 2024, oversaw Escondida’s production extension and the Vicuna joint venture.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

He also oversaw the creation of the Vicuna joint venture, which BHP says has the potential to become one of the world’s top copper and gold mines.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

Monroe 1, Torres 0: Jeremiah Vicuna scored the winning run in the ninth inning on catcher’s interference.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2025

Dan Vicuna, national redistricting manager for Common Cause, said there are efforts underway across the country “trying to shame the legislature into doing the right thing.”

From Seattle Times • Aug. 29, 2021

They were at the Vicuna, and she was there now alone.

From The Wheels of Chance: a Bicycling Idyll by Wells, H. G. (Herbert George)