chaparral
chaparral Lexical Profile
chaparral Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American A shrubland biome and plant community found primarily in California and northern Mexico, characterized by dense, drought-resistant, evergreen shrubs, scrub oaks, and thorny bushes adapted to hot, dry summers and periodic wildfires.
"The hillsides of Southern California are covered in dense chaparral that provides essential habitat for coyotes, roadrunners, and mule deer."
North American The creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), a resinous evergreen desert shrub of the family Zygophyllaceae native to the southwestern United States and Mexico, or an herbal preparation made from its leaves and twigs.
"Health regulators have warned consumers against ingesting chaparral supplements due to the risk of severe liver toxicity."
American The greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus), a long-tailed, ground-dwelling bird of the cuckoo family native to the arid scrublands of the American Southwest and Mexico.
"A swift chaparral darted across the dusty ranch road and disappeared into the mesquite thicket."
• Rhymes for chaparral
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the mid-19th century from Spanish chaparral ('place of scrub oaks'), derived from chaparro ('evergreen oak'), which in turn comes from Basque txapar, a diminutive of zapar ('bramble' or 'thicket').