selva
Americannoun
noun
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dense equatorial forest, esp in the Amazon basin, characterized by tall broad-leaved evergreen trees, epiphytes, lianas, etc
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a tract of such forest
Etymology
Origin of selva
First recorded in 1840–50; from Brazilian Portuguese, Portuguese: literally “forest,” from Latin silva; silva ( 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.
The organizers appeared to turn the word “selva,” or jungle, into “Selma” by replacing the letter V with the letter M. The word selva is directly linked to the armed forces and its veterans.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 9, 2023
Y lo que es más importante, hay más de 500 pueblos indígenas distintos en la selva amazónica.
From Scientific American • Nov. 12, 2022
El río Amazonas alimenta una selva tropical de 7,4 millones de km2, casi el equivalente al área terrestre de los EE.UU. contiguos.
From Scientific American • Nov. 12, 2022
Los villanos aquí incluyen un ejército de conquistadores españoles no muertos que intentaron y fracasaron en su deseo de utilizar la selva para sus necesidades, en concreto, asaltar un árbol con poderes curativos.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 31, 2021
It was the very approach to the world of spirits; over this woodland, seen on the verge of twilight, brooded a silent awe, such as Dante knew in his selva oscura.
From By the Ionian Sea Notes of a Ramble in Southern Italy by Gissing, George
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.
