inca
inca Lexical Profile
inca Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A member of the Quechua-speaking South American indigenous people who established a vast empire in the Andes centered at Cusco in Peru prior to the Spanish conquest.
"The Incas constructed an extensive network of stone roads and suspension bridges across the rugged Andes mountains."
The supreme emperor, monarch, or a noble of royal blood of the pre-Columbian Inca Empire.
"Fine textiles woven from vicuña wool were strictly reserved for the ruling Inca and the highest nobility."
Any of several high-altitude South American hummingbirds of the genus Coeligena (family Trochilidae), native to humid Andean cloud forests and characterized by long straight bills and dark or iridescent plumage often marked with a contrasting throat patch or white breast collar.
• adjective
Relating to, characteristic of, or originating from the Inca people, their pre-Columbian Andean empire, or their culture.
"The steep mountain slopes are still lined with ancient Inca agricultural terraces."
Word Nuance & Usage
Strictly speaking, "Inca" originally referred only to the supreme ruler (Sapa Inca) and the ruling royal class of Cusco, though in modern English it is universally used to denote the entire civilization and its subjects.
• Rhymes for inca
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the 16th century via Spanish from Quechua "inka", meaning "lord", "ruler", or "man of royal blood".
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.