amazon
pronunciation
How to pronounce amazon in British English:
UK [ˈæməzən]
How to pronounce amazon in American English:
US [ˈæməzɑːn]
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- Noun:
- a large strong and aggressive woman
- mainly green tropical American parrots
Word Origin
- Amazon (n.)
- late 14c., from Greek Amazon (mostly in plural Amazones) "one of a race of female warriors in Scythia," probably from an unknown non-Indo-European word, possibly from an Iranian compound *ha-maz-an- "(one) fighting together" [Watkins], but in folk etymology long derived from a- "without" + mazos "breasts," hence the story that the Amazons cut or burned off one breast so they could draw bowstrings more efficiently. The river in South America (originally called by the Spanish Rio Santa Maria de la Mar Dulce) rechristened by Francisco de Orellana, 1541, after an encounter with female warriors of the Tapuyas (or, as some say, beardless, long-haired male tribesmen; still others hold that the name is a corruption of a native word in Tupi or Guarani meaning "wave").
Example
- 1. Even in the peruvian amazon , the dam enjoys wide support .
- 2. The amazon river is known for high tidal waves as well .
- 3. Meanwhile , a federal court ordered work to stop on a controversial hydroelectric dam in the amazon , saying local people had not been properly consulted .
- 4. In the short term , both countries will have to keep pushing deeper into the amazon to generate electricity .
- 5. Ten out of 19 brazilian cities that doubled in population over the past decade are in the amazon .