savanna

or sa·van·nah

[ suh-van-uh ]

noun

1. a plain characterized by coarse grasses and scattered tree growth, especially on the margins of the tropics where the rainfall is seasonal, as in eastern Africa.
2. grassland region with scattered trees, grading into either open plain or woodland, usually in subtropical or tropical regions.

savanna

/ səˈvænə /

noun

1. open grasslands, usually with scattered bushes or trees, characteristic of much of tropical Africa

savanna

/ sə-văn′ə /

1. A flat, grass-covered area of tropical or subtropical regions, nearly treeless in some places but generally having a mix of widely spaced trees and bushes. Savannas have distinct wet and dry seasons, with the mix of vegetation dependent primarily on the relative length of the two seasons.

savanna

1. A tropical land mass of grassland and scattered trees.

Word History and Origins

Origin of savanna¹

First recorded in 1545–55; earlier zavana, from Spanish (now sabana ), from Taíno zabana

Word History and Origins

Origin of savanna¹

C16: from Spanish zavana, from Taino zabana

Example Sentences

"We must act to save our rivers, oceans, savannas, mangroves and forests, as well as the communities that protect and live alongside them," he said.

From BBC

In recent weeks, blazes exacerbated by climate change consumed large sections of the Amazon rainforest, Pantanal wetlands and Cerrado savanna, as well as the southern state of São Paulo.

From Salon

During the study researchers visited 10 forest fragments that had become isolated from each other by the cattle pastures, the San Juan River and natural savanna.

From Salon

As a result, tropical forests, savannas and grasslands in those areas tend to wither and die and burn in wildfires, contributing to additional CO2 emissions.

From Los Angeles Times

Because environmental cues are different in Los Angeles than in the jacaranda’s native savannas of Argentina and Brazil, the trees do not flower here by clockwork.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• grassland