giraffe

noun

gi·​raffe jə-ˈraf 

plural giraffes

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

giraffish

jə-ˈra-fish 

adjective

Illustration of giraffe

• giraffe 1

Examples of giraffe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Out of Africa Wildlife Park provides an intimate look at lions, tigers, hippos, giraffes and plenty more. —Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 26 Oct. 2024

Then there are the one-offs: a giraffe (£1,963), a prancing horse (£2,733), a fire-breathing dragon (£17, 325). —Sophie Elmhirst, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2024

Infants might be up to 6 feet tall – like in the case of a Masai giraffe calf – or as hefty as a 250-pound Asian elephant calf. —Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 4 Aug. 2024

Earlier this week, the zoo shared an update on Facebook, in which the newborn calf could be seen bonding with another giraffe. —Nicholas Rice, Peoplemag, 7 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Italian giraffa, from Arabic zirāfa

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing giraffe

• reticulated giraffe

Kids Definition

giraffe

noun

gi·​raffe ˈjə-ˈraf 

plural giraffes or giraffe

: a large swift cud-chewing spotted African mammal with a very long neck that is the tallest of living four-footed animals