selva
Americannoun
noun
-
dense equatorial forest, esp in the Amazon basin, characterized by tall broad-leaved evergreen trees, epiphytes, lianas, etc
-
a tract of such forest
Etymology
Origin of selva
First recorded in 1840–50; from Brazilian Portuguese, Portuguese: literally “forest,” from Latin silva; see origin at silva ( def. )
Vocabulary lists containing selva
South America - Middle School
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South America - Introductory
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South America - High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The organizers appeared to turn the word “selva,” or jungle, into “Selma” by replacing the letter V with the letter M. The word selva is directly linked to the armed forces and its veterans.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 9, 2023
Doshi frequently employs Dante's trope of selva oscura, the dark wood, to represent the love relationship, so there is a metaphorical parallel to these paired ideas.
From The Guardian ● Jun. 1, 2012
Restless by William Boyd Charlotte Gray by Sebastian Faulks The Night Watch by Sarah Waters That Summer by Andrew Greig “Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita, mi ritrovai per una selva oscura...”
From The Guardian ● Dec. 21, 2010
The wide depression between this village and Olevano used to be timbered and is still known as la selva or la foresta.
From Alone by Norman Douglas
The following passage, from the twenty-eighth canto of the Purgatorio, will illustrate our meaning:— "In questa altezza che tutta è disciolta Nell'aer vivo, tal moto percuote, E fa sonar la selva perch' è folta."
From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 20, No. 118, August, 1867 by Various
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