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hyenas

/haɪˈiːnəz/ /haɪˈiːnæs/

Meanings
noun
Any of the medium-sized to large feliform carnivores of the subfamily Hyaeninae (genera Hyaena and Crocuta), native to Africa and Asia and noted for the sound similar to laughter which they can make if excited.

Examples :

"While visiting the zoo, the children were both amused and slightly frightened by the hyenas and their strange, laughing calls. "
animal biology nature organism science

Related Words

Illustration frightened

frightened verb

/ˈfɹaɪtn̩d/

To cause to feel fear; to scare; to cause to feel alarm or fright.

"Avery puts a sheet over her head, pretending to be a ghost to frighten Emily."

Illustration performs

performs verb

/pərˈfɔrmz/ /pəˈfɔrmz/

To do something; to execute.

"It took him only twenty minutes to perform the task."

Illustration laughter

laughter noun

/ˈlɑːftə/ /ˈlæftɚ/

The sound of laughing, produced by air so expelled; any similar sound.

"Their loud laughter betrayed their presence."

Illustration subfamily

subfamily noun

/ˈsʌbˌfæmɪli/ /ˈsʌbˌfæməli/

A taxonomic category ranking between a family and a genus; formerly called a tribe

"In biology class, we learned that dogs (Canidae family) are further classified into different groups, like the subfamily Caninae, which includes wolves, foxes, and jackals. "

Illustration slightly

slightly adverb

/ˈslaɪtli/

Slenderly; delicately.

"He was slightly built, but tall."

Illustration carnivores

carnivores noun

/ˈkɑːrnɪvɔːrz/ /ˈkɑːrnɪvɔrz/

An organism that feeds chiefly on animals; an animal that feeds on meat as the main part of its diet.

"As juveniles the crocodiles are frequently predated by larger carnivores."

Illustration children

children noun

[ˈt͡ʃʊld̠ɹ̠ ̝ʷən] [ˈt͡ʃɪl.d̠ɹ̠ ̝ʷən] [tʃɪl.ɹən]

A person who has not yet reached adulthood, whether natural (puberty), cultural (initiation), or legal (majority)

"Go easy on him: he is but a child."

Illustration recently

recently adverb

/ˈɹiːsəntli/

In the recent past

"a recently published book"

Illustration ritualized

ritualized verb

/ˈrɪt͡ʃuəlaɪzd/ /ˈrɪt͡ʃəlaɪzd/

To make into a ritual.

"The company ritualized the weekly staff meeting by always starting with a round of silly icebreakers, even when there was serious work to discuss. "

Illustration laughing

laughing verb

/ˈlɑːfɪŋ/

To show mirth, satisfaction, or derision, by peculiar movement of the muscles of the face, particularly of the mouth, causing a lighting up of the face and eyes, and usually accompanied by the emission of explosive or chuckling sounds from the chest and throat; to indulge in laughter.

"There were many laughing children running on the school grounds."

Illustration similar

similar noun

/ˈsɪmələ/ /ˈsɪməlɚ/

That which is similar to, or resembles, something else, as in quality, form, etc.

"The teacher praised the students' similar answers on the math quiz. "

Illustration visiting

visiting verb

/ˈvɪzɪtɪŋ/

To habitually go to (someone in distress, sickness etc.) to comfort them. (Now generally merged into later senses, below.)

""For months, she was visiting her elderly neighbor, bringing meals and offering company as he recovered from surgery." "