giraffe

gi·raffe

noun \jə-ˈraf\

plural giraffes

Definition of GIRAFFE

1

or plural giraffe : a large fleet African ruminant mammal (Giraffa camelopardalis) that is the tallest of living quadrupeds and has a very long neck and a short coat with dark blotches separated by pale lines

2

capitalized : camelopardalis

— gi·raff·ish \-ˈra-fish\ adjective

Illustration of GIRAFFE

Origin of GIRAFFE

Italian giraffa, from Arabic zirāfa

First Known Use: circa 1600

Other Mammals Terms

dormouse, dugong, gibbon, grimalkin, sable, stoat, ungulate, vole

Rhymes with GIRAFFE

agrafe, bar graph, behalf, carafe, chiffchaff, cowlstaff, digraph, distaff, Falstaff, flagstaff, Flagstaff, half-staff, horselaugh, kenaf, line graph, mooncalf, paraph, pikestaff, riffraff, tipstaff

giraffe

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Masai giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi).—© Animals Animals

species of ruminant (Giraffa camelopardalis) that is the tallest of all mammals. It reaches an overall height of 18 ft (5.5 m) or more. The legs and neck are extremely long. The giraffe has a short body, a tufted tail, a short mane, and short, skin-covered horns. The back slopes downward to the hindquarters. The coat is pale buff, with reddish brown spots. It feeds primarily on acacia leaves. It lives in herds on savannas and in open bush country and is native to most of sub-Saharan Africa. Giraffes are still numerous in eastern Africa, where they are protected, but hunting has reduced their populations elsewhere. The only other member of the family Giraffidae is the okapi.