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

On a map, the shape of the trail resembles the head and neck of a giraffe. —Miles Howard, Outside Online, 17 Oct. 2024

The wave was about the equivalent height of two female giraffes. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 10 Oct. 2024

Builders will be impressed with these realistic vignettes — even the giraffe’s legs move anatomically and the gazelle comes with a fawn. —Melissa Epifano, EW.com, 8 Oct. 2024

Masai giraffes are the largest subspecies of giraffe and are native to East Africa. —Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 19 Sep. 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