giraffe

[ juh-rafor, especially British, -rahf ]

noun

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

Their excuse for the killing the giraffe was that they were worried about inbreeding.

From The Daily Beast

He posted two tweets about Marius, raging against the zoo's breeding practices and paying tribute to the young giraffe.

From The Daily Beast

Last Sunday Marius, a 2-year-old giraffe, was slaughtered at the Copenhagen Zoo.

From The Daily Beast

A massive giraffe overlooks the fantastical cluster of disparately shaped and designed buildings.

From The Daily Beast

Beyond the river, caramel plains rolled away to the distant horizon, spotted with acacia trees and slow-moving giraffe.

From The Daily Beast

He was holding his big head high in the air, like a giraffe, and gazing proudly about him as he ran.

From Project Gutenberg

Jumping up, he presented at the giraffe, which was galloping off about two hundred yards ahead.

From Project Gutenberg

The giraffe is found in the Luanga valley; it is also met with in the extreme north-east of the country.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a gobbler, I tell you, that was nearly as big as a giraffe.

From Project Gutenberg

The giraffe, as well as the Peruvian horse, has this peculiar movement naturally.

From Project Gutenberg