paramo

American  

[par-uh-moh, pahr-uh-] / ˈpær əˌmoʊ, ˈpɑr ə- /

noun

paramos plural

1. a high, cold plateau of South America.

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paramo British  

/ ˈpærəˌməʊ /

noun

1. a high plateau in the Andes between the tree line and the permanent snow line

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• paramos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of paramo

First recorded in 1750–60; from South American Spanish; Spanish páramo “barren plain”; presumably of pre-Latin origin

Example Sentences

It was a welcome refuge to us, for we had well nigh perished with cold on the dreary paramo.

From The Andes and the Amazon Across the Continent of South America by Orton, James

But to remain in a paramo during the night, even though thus protected, is often a painful ordeal.

From The Young Llanero A Story of War and Wild Life in Venezuela by Kingston, William Henry Giles

After the account I had heard from the doctor, I begged of Kanimapo that he would not conduct us through a paramo.

From The Young Llanero A Story of War and Wild Life in Venezuela by Kingston, William Henry Giles

Between Cotopaxi and Sincholagua are numerous conical hills covering the paramo, reminding one of the mud volcanoes of Jorullo.

From The Andes and the Amazon Across the Continent of South America by Orton, James

And now we rapidly descended by a steep, narrow path, and over paramo and bog, to a little tambo, where we had the luxury of sleeping on a bed of straw.

From The Andes and the Amazon Across the Continent of South America by Orton, James