giraffe

[juh-raf, -rahf]

noun

1. a tall, long-necked, spotted ruminant, Giraffa camelopardalis, of Africa: the tallest living quadruped animal.

2. Astronomy.,  Giraffe, the constellation Camelopardalis.

giraffe

/ dʒɪˈrɑːf, -ˈræf /

noun

1. a large ruminant mammal, Giraffa camelopardalis, inhabiting savannas of tropical Africa: the tallest mammal, with very long legs and neck and a colouring of regular reddish-brown patches on a beige ground: family Giraffidae

Word History and Origins

Origin of giraffe¹

First recorded in 1585–95; from French girafe, from Italian giraffa, from dialectal Arabic zirāfah; further origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of giraffe¹

C17: from Italian giraffa, from Arabic zarāfah, probably of African origin

Example Sentences

It has been a challenging time for the San Diego Zoo, where three beloved animals — Kalluk, a polar bear; Nicky, a giraffe; and Maka, a gorilla — died within days of each other.

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It has been a challenging time for the San Diego Zoo, where three beloved animals — a polar bear, giraffe and gorilla — died within days of each other.

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Say hello to the Southern giraffe, one of the newly-recognised species.

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Above Landman’s wrist, a zebra bends to graze, while a giraffe behind steps through a stand of wind-bent acacia trees.

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In 2014, a zoo in Copenhagen culled a giraffe - named Marius - because his genes were too close to the other giraffes in the zoo's breeding programme.

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