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chaparral

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noun chap·ar·ral \ ˌsha-pə-ˈral , -ˈrel \

Definition of chaparral

1 :a thicket of dwarf evergreen oaks; broadly :a dense impenetrable thicket of shrubs or dwarf trees
2 :an ecological community composed of shrubby plants adapted to dry summers and moist winters that occurs especially in southern California

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Examples of chaparral in a Sentence

  1. the rabbit darted into the chaparral

Recent Examples of chaparral from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chaparral.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of chaparral

Spanish, from chaparro dwarf evergreen oak, from Basque txapar

chaparral Synonyms

Synonyms
boscage (also boskage), bosk (or bosque), bosquet, brake, brushwood, thicket, coppice, copse, covert
Related Words
canebrake; brush, bush, scrub, scrubland; bramble, jungle, tangle; grove, hedge, stand, woodlot; forest, greenwood, wildwood, wood, woodland

CHAPARRAL Defined for English Language Learners

chaparral

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noun

Definition of chaparral for English Language Learners

  • : an area of dry land especially in southern California that is covered with bushes and short trees

Learn More about chaparral

  1. See words that rhyme with chaparral Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for chaparral Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chaparral

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Examples: chaparral in a Sentence