arkansas
arkansas Lexical Profile
• noun
American A state in the south-central region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and known for its diverse geography ranging from the mountainous Ozarks to heavily forested southern lowlands.
"Little Rock is the capital and most populous city of Arkansas."
American A major tributary of the Mississippi River that flows generally to the east and southeast through the US states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
"The Arkansas River provides vital irrigation for agriculture in the Great Plains."
Word Nuance & Usage
The state name is officially pronounced with a silent 's' (/ˈɑːrkənsɔː/), but the Arkansas River is frequently pronounced /ɑːrˈkænzəs/ by residents of Kansas and Colorado.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from a French transliteration of 'akakaze', an Algonquian word for the Quapaw people, meaning 'people of the south wind' or 'downriver people'. The pronunciation was formally settled by a state legislative act in 1881.