prairie

[ prair-ee ]

noun

1. an extensive, level or slightly undulating, mostly treeless tract of land in the Mississippi valley, characterized by a highly fertile soil and originally covered with coarse grasses, and merging into drier plateaus in the west. Compare pampas, savanna, steppe.
2. a tract of grassland; meadow.
3. (in Florida) a low, sandy tract of grassland often covered with water.
4. Southern U.S. wet grassland; marsh.
5. (initial capital letter) a steam locomotive having a two-wheeled front truck, six driving wheels, and a two-wheeled rear truck.

prairie

/ ˈprɛərɪ /

noun

1. often plural a treeless grassy plain of the central US and S Canada Compare pampas steppe savanna

prairie

/ prâr′ē /

1. An extensive area of flat or rolling grassland, especially the large plain of central North America.

Other Words From

• prairie·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of prairie¹

1675–85; < French: meadow < Vulgar Latin *prātāria, equivalent to Latin prāt ( um ) meadow + -āria, feminine of -ārius -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of prairie¹

C18: from French, from Old French praierie, from Latin prātum meadow

Example Sentences

Two muscle cars were parked in the carpet of prairie brush over his shoulder.

From Salon

There were once five prairie Dems in the Senate; now there’s one.

From Slate

Instead, the final prairie Democrat’s last stand is being waged not on the high plains or the snowy ridges of the eastern Rockies but on the peaks and troughs of the airwaves.

From Slate

More encouraging still, tribes in Montana – Blackfeet Nation, Fort Belknap Indian Community, Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes, and South Dakota's Rosebud Sioux – have reintroduced bison to the northern Great Plains to revive the prairie ecosystem, tackle food insecurity and lessen the impacts of climate change.

From Salon

“With the upcoming international events scheduled to arrive in Inglewood over the next few years, including the Super Bowl, the World Cup, NBA All-Star Game, and the Olympics, the proposal to partially close Prairie Avenue and Manchester for at least 36 months for construction, the loss of access at our driveways, the ripping up of our communication and utility infrastructure along Prairie, and the lane reduction, all mean local businesses as well as guests attending the events will be significantly impacted,” he wrote.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• meadow
• pasture
• plain
• savanna
• steppe