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Definition of megapode

megapode

/ˈmɛɡ.əˌpoʊd/
meg · a · pode
Plural:megapodes
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megapode Lexical Profile

megapode Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A heavy-bodied, mostly ground-dwelling bird of the family Megapodiidae, native to Australasia and Southeast Asia, distinguished by its exceptionally large feet and its unique habit of incubating its eggs in large mounds of decaying vegetation or volcanically heated soil.

Example

"The male megapode works tirelessly to maintain the precise temperature of the incubation mound by adding or removing layers of rotting leaves."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for megapode

• Nearby Words

megaphone
megapixel
megaplex
megapode
megaproject
megaquake
megastar

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from Modern Latin 'Megapodius' (the genus name), from Ancient Greek 'megas' (large) and 'pous' or 'pod-' (foot), referring to the bird's strong, oversized feet used for digging nesting mounds.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Megapode. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/megapode
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