giraffe

noun

gi·raffe | \ 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

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Examples of giraffe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The giraffe, who was 20, was euthanized because of worsening arthritis that increasingly impacted her quality of life, Animal Adventure Park said in a statement. — NBC News, "April the giraffe, who went viral with 2017 birth, is dead," 3 Apr. 2021 The average lifespan of a giraffe in captivity is 20 to 25 years, longer than the 10 to 15 years in the wild, according to the park. — Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner, "April, the giraffe known for viral 2017 pregnancy, dies," 2 Apr. 2021 Looking at the Energy Department headquarters — once described by a Washington Post critic as an elephant teetering on the legs of a giraffe — in the waning light, my own legs seemed a little sturdier, my feet more firmly on the ground. — Kelsey Ables, Washington Post, "Brutalist buildings aren’t unlovable. You’re looking at them wrong.," 25 Mar. 2021 So the team decided to see how the animals would respond to high blood pressure, the normal condition of the giraffe. — Sofia Moutinho, Science | AAAS, "Giraffe genome holds keys to its peculiar body—and clues to hypertension treatments," 17 Mar. 2021 On Monday, Hasina — a 12-year-old Masai giraffe at the Los Angeles Zoo in California — died after giving birth to a stillborn calf. — Gabrielle Chung, PEOPLE.com, "8-Year-Old Giraffe at Maryland Zoo Unexpectedly Dies: 'We Are Devastated'," 5 Mar. 2021 Published in Science Advances this week, the study identifies 490 genes with unique adaptations in the giraffe. — Sofia Moutinho, Science | AAAS, "Giraffe genome holds keys to its peculiar body—and clues to hypertension treatments," 17 Mar. 2021 Recent gems include a $119,000 one bedroom, one bathroom apartment filled with large safari animal statues—including a giraffe peering into the shower. — Megan Mccluskey, Time, "Exploring the Wild World of Weird Homes on Zillow Can Be a Cabin Fever Cure," 15 Mar. 2021 The giraffe was seen on camera awkwardly trying to lie down, Erin Grimm, the zoo’s mammal collection and conservation manager, said in a Thursday news release. — Mckenna Oxenden, baltimoresun.com, "8-year-old giraffe who suffered from abdominal distension suddenly dies at Maryland Zoo," 5 Mar. 2021

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