Andes

American  

[an-deez] / ˈæn diz /

plural noun

1. a mountain range in western South America, extending about 4,500 miles (7,250 kilometers) from northern Colombia and Venezuela south to Cape Horn. Highest peak, Aconcagua, 22,834 feet (6,960 meters).

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Andes British  

/ ˈændiːz /

plural noun

1. a major mountain system of South America, extending for about 7250 km (4500 miles) along the entire W coast, with several parallel ranges or cordilleras and many volcanic peaks: rich in minerals, including gold, silver, copper, iron ore, and nitrates. Average height: 3900 m (13 000 ft). Highest peak: Aconcagua, 6960 m (22 835 ft)

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Andes Cultural  

1. Mountain system in South America running over 4,500 miles along the entire length of South America's Pacific Ocean coast.

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Etymology

Origin of Andes

First recorded in 1815–20; from Spanish, from Quechua andi “high crest”

Example Sentences

But those against say large-scale mining could alter the flow of rivers coming from the Andes mountains and threaten water security for millions.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

A parallel danger lurks in the Himalayas and other high mountain areas like the Andes, where melting glaciers have created thousands of new lakes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Coauthor Dr. Jo Osborn of Texas A&M University said the findings encourage a broader rethink of how wealth and power functioned in the ancient Andes.

From Science Daily • Mar. 7, 2026

But, as Chance Andes, the warden of San Quentin, pointed out last week, “Humanity is safety,” and treating incarcerated people like, well, people, actually makes them want to behave better.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

As for the horses, they were from Europe; except for llamas in the Andes, the Western Hemisphere had no beasts of burden.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Related Words

• sierra