Taklamakan
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of Taklamakan
First recorded in 1895–1900; of uncertain origin: perhaps from Turkic taqlar makan “place of ruins”; perhaps from Uyghur Takla, from Persian tark “to abandon” + Persian makan “place”; some Chinese scholars connect Taklamakan and Tocharian ( def. )
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.
Among the most well-preserved are the Tarim mummies of Xinjiang, China, who were buried in boat-shaped coffins up to 4,000 years ago in the Taklamakan Desert.
From National Geographic • Aug. 7, 2023
This newest link is expected to start selling tickets in June 2022, allowing the entire loop to encircle the Germany-sized Taklamakan, which is the world’s second largest desert after the Sahara.
From Washington Times • Oct. 17, 2021
But the warm wind blowing across the Taklamakan desert is bringing with it worry and change.
From BBC • Mar. 2, 2021
Desert mummies span the globe, from caves in Nevada to ancient Egypt to the Taklamakan desert in China.
From The Verge • Jun. 13, 2017
The packed dirt road became loose under our feet as we approached the skirt of the Taklamakan.
From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.