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).

---

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)

---

Andes Cultural  

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

---

Etymology

Origin of Andes

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

Example Sentences

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

The bird uses this ornate tail to attract mates, yet its forest habitat has been eroded by population growth, farming, and logging, leaving it confined to a small area of the northern Andes.

From BBC

"Seabird guano may seem trivial, yet our study suggests this potent resource could have significantly contributed to sociopolitical and economic change in the Peruvian Andes," Dr. Bongers said.

From Science Daily

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

However AES Andes announced late last month that it had "decided to desist from the execution of the Inna project" and instead focus on renewable energy and energy storage.

From Barron's

Related Words

• sierra