Araguaía

or A·ra·gua·ya

[ ar-uh-gwahy-uh, awr- ]

noun

1. a river in southern central Brazil, flowing north to the Tocantins River. 1,600 miles (2,575 km) long.

Araguaia

/ ˌɑːrəˈɡwaɪə /

noun

1. a river in central Brazil, rising in S central Mato Grosso state and flowing north to the Tocantins River. Length: over 1771 km (1100 miles)

Word History and Origins

Origin of Araguaía¹

First recorded in 1705–10 (for spelling Araguaya ); from Tupi (a language spoken by the Tupi Indians in northern Brazil): literally, “River of red macaws”

Example Sentences

“We’re predicting an increase in the volume of the Araguaia River, which will fill the Tocantins River even more,” he said.

From Seattle Times

They had called state park authorities but were told the Araguaia didn’t have a patrol officer, let alone firefighters.

From Washington Post

Araguaia State Park, half the size of Rhode Island, doesn’t have a single patrol officer.

From Washington Post

Now, looking out at the Araguaia State Park, he could see that it was the forest that had become the island.

From Washington Post

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled in November 2010 on the detention, torture and disappearance of 70 people linked to the rural Araguaia guerrilla movement between 1972 and 1975 and rebuked Brazil for failing to prosecute gross human rights violations.

From New York Times